The Eagan girls might have won the conference matchup over Eastview 1-0 earlier in the year, but the Lightning nabbed the one that really mattered.

Senior midfielder Taryn MacMillan's goal only 5 minutes, 13 seconds into the game was enough to give Eastview a Class 2A, Section 3 championship and state tournament berth, an eventual 2-0 victory over the Wildcats at Park of Cottage Grove on Tuesday night.

Eagan, ranked No. 3 in Class 2A and the section's top seed, entered the game as the favorite. The Wildcats had only allowed six goals all season. Coach David Herem and the No. 8-ranked Lightning didn't let that bother them.

"Our girls are confident," Herem said. "We know what we can do and we're playing very well right now."

Senior forward Leah Nesheim controlled the ball on the right sideline before beating a defender one-on-one. Nesheim set up MacMillan in front of the goal, who one-timed it through the defense and past the goalkeeper. It was MacMillan's 10th goal of the season.

Eagan entered the second half with a second gear, but could not score despite numerous scoring opportunities. Near the end of the game, the Wildcats pressed with four and five forwards at times.

"They threw everything they had at us in the second half," Herem said. "If they had a kitchen sink, I think they would have thrown it in there."

Junior goalkeeper Anhthu Huynh played brilliantly, recording her ninth shutout of the year. Nesheim came in all alone and sealed it midway through the second half with a shot from the top of the box.

"We needed it. They were coming on," Herem said.

Section 3 boys' final: Eastview 3, Eagan 1

Sophomore forward Pierce Erickson scored his ninth and 10th goals of the season to lead No. 1-ranked Eastview over No. 5 Eagan 3-1 in the Class 2A, Section 3 championship at Park of Cottage Grove.

The victory extended Eastview's undefeated season and gives the program its first state tournament berth.

Two goals in the first four minutes got the game going in a hurry.

Erickson battled for position on a Joe Karam pass and lifted it over the Wildcats goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead only 2:42 into the game. The young talent is starting to become a go-to guy for the Lightning.

"He's learning how to step up because [junior forward Mathew] Gweh garners so much attention from defenses," Eastview coach Scott Gustafson said.

But the Wildcats responded only 38 seconds later. Junior Juan Sjoberg took a Max Turnstedt thread and came in all alone on the Lightning goalkeeper.

Only minutes later, a Gweh corner kick created a scramble in front of the goal. Erickson's first shot was stopped, but he followed it up and slide tackled the ball in to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead still early in the first half.

After an Eagan scoring attempt, winning goalkeeper Sam Ruelas dished the ball to Gweh, who worked defenders end to end, between a few legs and into the box, where he buried his 23rd goal of the season to seal the deal.

"There's not a more dynamic player in the state," Gustafson said. "Hands down, he can just turn the game on its head in an instant."