Long. Surreal. Bizarre.

Those were the words Minnetonka’s girls’ hockey coaches and players used to sum up their 4-3 Class 2A state semifinal victory against Lakeville lasting six overtimes and a record 113 minutes and 29 seconds. The game ended at 1:04 a.m. Saturday.

The Skippers will go for a third consecutive state title against No. 3 seed Hill-Murray at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Amy Petersen was credited with the game winning goal at 4:29 of the sixth overtime after Laura Bowman’s shot deflected off her and past Lakeville North goaltender Cassie Alexander.

“It hit me right in the chest,” Petersen said.

The placement was fitting as both teams led with their hearts.

Players throughout each lineup were tired, bruised and battered. Both coaches shortened their benches in the third period and rolled two lines with occasional individual substitute for the remainder.

“We lift each other up as teammates and whenever anyone is tired we say, ‘All right, we got this. Come on, let’s go,’” Minnetonka goaltender Sydney Rossman said.

Late in the fifth overtime, the game became the longest in girls’ hockey state tournament history, eclipsing the 2003 consolation game between Elk River and Anoka that lasted five overtimes and 108 minutes, 29 seconds.

Minnetonka broke the record with 61 shots on goal in a tournament game. Alexander set a record with 57 saves in the game.

Tied 3-3 after two periods, the game felt reminiscent of last year’s semifinal matchup, which Minnetonka won in overtime.

Hannah Behounek tallied a power-play goal just 44 seconds into the second period, extending the Skippers’ lead to 3-1.

Lakeville North fought back to tie the game 3-3 on two goals from Christi Vetter. She beat goaltender Sydney Rossman on the first goal as the puck hit Rossman’s blocker and bounced up and over her into the goal.

On the second goal, Vetter redirected a shot from Alexis Joyce to score the power-play equalizer with less than one minute to go in the second period.

“I was proud of how the girls came back,” Lakeville North coach Buck Kochevar said. “They were actually really loose during the overtimes. We had nothing to lose. “These girls left everything on the ice. Hats off to them. I was hoping we'd get a bounce and make history."

Minnetonka grabbed an early lead Friday night as Diana Draayer scored just 29 seconds into the game. Teammate Sidney Morin bumped the lead to 2-0 with a goal at 12:44.

Lakeville North received a much-needed boost as Taylor Flaherty scored a power-play goal with one minute and three seconds to go in the first period.

DAVID LA VAQUE