After a commanding 6-2 lead had been whittled to 6-4 with just under six minutes to play in regulation, a confident voice rose from the Eden Prairie net and reached the rafters of the Xcel Energy Center.

The voice gave volume to a string of chatter that knew no silence, and revealed a source of inspiration that spends her evenings in the Eagles’ crease.

That voice belongs to junior goaltender Alexa Dobchuk, who’s consistently sunny disposition on the ice brings a calming presence to her teammates.

“Communication’s a really big part of my game,” Dobchuk said in the postgame press conference after her Eagles held on to defeat Forest Lake by that 6-4 score. “The way I feel about the game, that energy flows to the rest of the team,” Dobchuk explained.

“So if I’m feeling down about myself, that’s going to affect they way they play," she added. "I always try to make sure I’m yelling encouragement to let (my teammates) know they’re playing well.”

Senior forward and Ms. Hockey finalist Naomi Rogge surely played well, racking up a hat trick and two assists to pace the Eagles to victory.

Fellow senior Emily McLaughlin added a pair of goals, and freshman forward Sydney Langseth added a single goal for the No. 4 seed Eagles (20-6-2). 

The Eagles managed to fend off an inspired Forest Lake squad in the final period, a frame in which the Rangers pumped 11 shots on net and narrowed the Eden Prairie lead on goals by senior forward Maddie Kolbow and junior forward Kayla Kasel.

“These girls never give up,” Forest Lake head coach Todd Gutterman said after the game. “They’ve got a great spirit, they fight. I love coaching them, they’re an awesome group of girls,” Gutterman added.

Kolbow scored twice for the fifth-seeded Rangers (20-7-2), with freshman forward Sydney Rydel and the aforementioned Kasel tallying singles.

Up next for Eden Prairie will be a Class AA semifinal matchup with Lake Conference rival Edina, a team that bested the Eagles twice during the regular season by scores of 1-0 and 2-1.

“The two times we played them, we made mental errors on their goals,” Rogge said, noting that the Eagles are a new team in the playoffs. “I think we’ve moved past that and we’re able to just keep going."

She added, “I think we’re a smarter team since we played them last time, and I think (we have) a good shot at them tomorrow."

Class A (Ridder Arena)

• Hibbing 6, Mankato East 2 (Box Score)
• Alexandria 7, Mound-Westonka 6 (Box Score)

Class A Semifinals (Xcel Energy Center)

• St. Paul United vs. Warroad, 11 a.m.
• Blake vs. Northfield, 1 p.m.

Class AA Semifinals (Xcel Energy Center)

• Blaine vs. Hill-Murray, 6 p.m.
• Edina vs. Eden Prairie, 8 p.m.

Class AA Consolation (Ridder Arena)

• Roseau vs. Eastview, 10 a.m.
• Farmington vs. Forest Lake, Noon