Saari plays hero in state semifinal victory over Somerset

The Northland Pines boys’ hockey team stormed back from a 2-1 deficit in the third period in the WIAA D2 state semifinal to beat Somerset 3-2 after sophomore Cooper Saari found the back of the net to take the lead with 24 seconds left in the game.

Northland Pines will have the day off today and advance to play No. 4-seeded Amery in the D2 State title game tomorrow at 11 a.m. 

“It feels amazing to be moving into the championship game.” 

That was the reaction of Northland Pines boys hockey coach Zach Otto after the Eagles beat the Somerset Spartans 3-2 in the riveting Division Two state semifinal matchup.

"It certainly wasn’t our prettiest win, but we got it done,” stated Otto. “Our team captains pulled through with a pair of goals by Josh Graves and an unbelievable game in net by goalie Evrett Leslie with 32 saves.”

The semifinal game between the Spartans and Eagles was a rematch of a Dec. 12 meeting, where the Eagles won 5-2. Pines got out to a 3-0 lead seven minutes into that game, but it was a much different feel at state.

Pines took the lead Thursday on a first-period unassisted power-play goal by Josh Graves at the 9:54 mark.

Somerset later capitalized on a late Pines penalty and scored with a minute left to make it 1-1 heading to the second period.

Neither team scored in the second. And though Somerset controlled the action and outshot the Eagles 13-3, Pines' goalie Evrett Leslie stopped every one.

The Spartans took their first lead of the afternoon at 2:55 of the third, which made it 2-1.

At the 7:43 mark, Josh Graves slipped behind Somerset defenders and was taken down in the goal crease.

After some discussion, the officials awarded Graves a penalty shot, and he brought the big group of Pines fans to their feet by putting the biscuit in the basket to tie it at 2-all.

Somerset had a 14-5 advantage in shots on goal in the period but could not score, and with 24 seconds left in regulation time, Super Sophomore Cooper Saari fired the puck home from Michael Schmidt and Jazek Jantzen.

Pines fans went wild as the clock ran out and the Eagles moved to within one win of their first state championship since 1989.