With just two games remaining in the regular season, the Hopkins' girls soccer team needed a positive response after a loss and a draw in their previous two contests. 

The Royals bounced back well on Wednesday night, edging Lake Conference rival Edina 2-1 in overtime. 

“We always talk about building throughout the season to get ourselves playing the best at the end of the year,” Royals coach Keith Pavelka said after the victory. 

“Playing really tough games against opponents like Edina, getting the win is really big for us,” Pavelka added.

Edina is currently ranked No. 8 in the latest Class 2A coaches’ association poll. 

The Royals drew first blood less than four minutes into the first half, with senior midfielder Ellen Frank directing a header past Edina goaltender Lolita Fidler off a free kick. 

After the goal, the game took on a sleepy tone, with neither team executing well or moving the ball with energy until the Hornets (9-5-1, 3-3-1) tied the game with just over 16 minutes to play in regulation on a goal by senior forward Sarah Doran. 

“I thought we had a really good first half,” Pavelka said of his team’s play down the stretch. 

“In the second half Edina found some momentum and we had trouble getting the ball out of our end for awhile.”

The Royals (9-4-1, 4-2-0) regained their spark in the extra session, with senior midfielder Isabelle Olson chipping a shot over Fidler for the eventual game-winner. 

Pavelka credits his defense for part of the offense’s effectiveness, with his defenders preferring to steal the ball cleanly and give Hopkins possession as opposed to desperately trying to clear the danger. 

“Earlier in the year we kind of gave the ball away a lot, or just kicked it out of bounds,” Pavelka explained. 

“We’re really trying to keep possession out of the back, so we’re trying to pass to somebody in the offensive flow.”