Returning 13 seniors from last year’s Class 2A state championship team, Eagan has plenty of firepower to defend its title.

The top-seeded Wildcats displayed some of it in a 4-0 home win over second-seeded Burnsville in the Section 3 championship game Wednesday night.

“We’re veterans and we know what to expect in these section games and state games,” Eagan senior captain Jade King said. “I think we’ll be calm and settle into the game since we’ve been in this situation before.”

Dropping two games late in the season, the Wildcats knew they had to tighten up their play to return the state tournament.

“Now as we get to playoffs, we’ve locked it back down,” Eagan coach Bulut Ozturk said. “This year, I haven’t worried about how many goals we give up as I have in the past seasons.”

Ozturk gave his team more liberty in the regular season, experimenting with its play. The trials proved beneficial as the Wildcats moved the ball more freely, and just 10 minutes into the game, Eagan one-upped its 1-0 regular-season win over Burnsville.

“They’ve definitely turned it on and stepped it up during playoffs. This is one of the best games that we’ve played,” Ozturk said.

King scored the opening goal and assisted on Anni Christenson's score to give the Wildcats a comfortable two-goal cushion.

Scoring the game-winning goal against Eden Prairie in last year’s state championship, King said this year’s team has a selfless desire to succeed.

“I think when we play as a team, we don’t care who gets the credit for things as long as we’re winning and playing our best,” she said.

Ozturk sees little difference between Eagan's two state teams, aside from the graduating players.

“Just the six players we’ve lost,” he said. “The heart of the team is still intact.” 

Top-seeded Eagan cruised to a 4-0 victory over second-seeded and South Suburban conference rival Burnsville in the Class 2A, Section 3 championship on Wednesday night at Park High School.

Ranked No. 3 in the season's final Class 2A coaches’ poll, the Wildcats return to the state tournament to defend their title.

Eagan (15-2-1) built off momentum from its regular-season win over the Blaze, scoring in the 5th minute. Senior Taylor Kenealy crossed a pass to captain Jade King, who kicked the ball in midair and sent it to the back of the net.

King returned the scoring favor, setting up her fellow captain Anni Christenson five minutes later. Christenson put the ball just to the left of Burnsville goalkeeper Sarah Gigstad.

The Wildcats coasted the rest of the half, focusing on neutralizing Blaze captain Ashley St. Aubin. With her defenders closing any possible shooting lanes, freshman goalie Megan Plashcko contained the few opportunities Burnsville could muster.

Kenealy scored in the 57th minute, giving Eagan a commanding 3-0 lead. Chasing down the ball down in the match's waning seconds, junior Carly Czaplewski scored with 2.1 seconds on the clock to cap the Wildcats' victory.

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