Senior Ryan Zeilinger made eight saves, and Totino-Grace rode a standout defensive effort to defeat Eagan, 4-3, in a Minnesota State High School League Boys Lacrosse state semifinal game Thursday night at Mounds View High.

Senior attackman Chad Ledy had two goals, and senior middies Guiseppe Palermo and Nik Colpitts added one apiece for Totino-Grace, which advanced to its first state final. The Eagles, who improved to 15-3, will face No. 24 Benilde-St. Margaret’s on Friday night.

“I’m proud of them,” Totino-Grace head coach Justin Hoban said.

Hoban said he told his assistant coaches at halftime, when the Eagles held a 3-1 lead, that they would need six goals to win. But four was enough.

“To hold anybody to three goals – let alone in the state semifinals – is a gargantuan effort,” Hoban said. “Our goalie was a complete beast. The three goals they scored, he had no chance on. The defense played really well except for a couple of breakdowns.”

Senior attackmen Chris Bowen and Kyle Sturgeon and senior middie Sam Kanwischer each had a goal for Eagan (12-5), which – according to Hoban – hit three pipes in the fourth period. Goalie Lucas Peterson made eight saves, including several late to keep his team within striking distance.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s won both of its games against Totino-Grace earlier this season – by seven and five goals, respectively. The Eagles have won nine straight since that second loss. Now they have less than 24 hours to get ready for a third meeting with Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

“The time frame is definitely not ideal, especially when they probably got to shut their starters down at halftime,” Hoban said, referring to Benilde-St. Margaret's 19-4 semifinal victory.

“There aren’t any surprises – we know Benilde, they beat us two times convincingly. They’re playing better now, but we are too. As I told the boys, if games were played in box scores, we wouldn’t play the game. But they aren't. … We’ll have to play a flawless game.”