ASHBURN, Va. — Throughout the 2025 Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 16U National Championships, Premier Prep Orange (MN) has been one of the best teams in the tournament.

After allowing three goals in its first game, Premier never allowed an opponent to score more than two goals in its final five games.

Premier’s defensive dominance continued in the 2A championship game against the East Coast Wizards (MA) on Sunday. Premier used a two-goal second period to help gain momentum and defeat the Wizards 4-1 to secure the national title.

“They played super well,” Eliza O’Brien, Premier Prep Orange’s head coach, said. “Every time we had a little adjustment, they made it. Every time they worked together as a team, especially because those girls don’t play together all season. It was amazing to see them gel as a team and win the whole thing.”

Forward Gabriella Voll netted two goals and an assist for Premier in the title game. An early third-period goal by forward Abigail Foley helped push Premier into a 3-0 lead before an empty-net score by forward Ella Koethe closed the game out with two minutes left.

“Over this weekend, our team really connected over the few games,” Premier defender Senna Hofmann said. “In the beginning it was rocky, especially the first few periods, but after that, we just got it going.”

Both teams killed off penalties in the first period. Premier capitalized on its second power-play opportunity early in the second period as a loose puck in front of the net was slid past the goaltender by Voll to give them a 1-0 lead.

“We just needed that momentum,” O’Brien said. “First, we had to get it out of our zone, and then once we got it out of our zone, we could go creatively into their zone and then put a couple in the back of the net.”

Both teams had chances to score the second goal of the game throughout the second period, but both goaltenders — Chloe Scott for the Wizards and a combination of Kelsey Flinck and Samantha Braun for Premier — made impressive stops. It took a rebound for Voll to score her second goal, coming with 53 seconds left in the second period.

When Caroline Matusovich was open in the middle and placed the puck in the top corner to cut the East Coast Wizards deficit to 3-1 with under five minutes left, O’Brien calmed her team down.

“We said to keep your composure,” O’Brien said. “Take a deep breath and play your game. They’re really coachable. They can make those adjustments, and they’re smart hockey players. There were some moments where we were not as hot, but then we always pulled it together.”

Once Koethe’s scored an empty-net goal, any nerves Premier had were gone.

“This was a great experience, and I wish I could relive it again,” Premier forward Leila Dalum concluded. “Our whole team played together. We’re fast, we’re smart with the puck and we outwork anyone.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.