ST. PAUL — The Breck Mustangs last won a state championship in 2020. It’s one of four state title banners hanging in their arena to celebrate the achievements, but in recent seasons, they have been an ever present reminder of the heights the program used to achieve.
Four years ago, the Mustangs won just three games. It was head coach Tricia Luoma’s first season, and they improved the next season with nine wins. In 2023-24 and 2024-25, the Mustangs won 17 and 19 games, respectively.
This season, Breck won 28 games, and the final win of the season was a defeat of the No. 1 Warroad Warriors, 4-1, in the 2026 MSHSL Class 1A state championship on Saturday at Grand Casino Arena.
“I could not have dreamed of this season this soon,” Tricia Luoma said.
The programs leap comes as a surprise given how young the Mustangs are. Four of the five leading scorers this season are sophomores, and Breck’s goalie, Clara Milinkovich, is a freshman, and none of them had state tournament experience.
On the other bench, Warroad had eight seniors, and the Warriors have made 11 straight state tournaments. Saturday was back-to-back title losses for the Warriors.
“I can already tell you how pissed they are,” Warroad head coach David Marvin said. “That’s back-to-back, and they wanted better. That’s the competitors they are. There is a hell of a lot to be proud of.”
The Warriors couldn’t get the puck past Milinkovich all night despite leading in shots on goal 38 to 23.
“She’s been a rock all season,” Tricia Luoma said. “We just have a lot of confidence in her, and that helps us play better in front of her.”
Milinkovich doesn’t act like a freshman. She likes to trash talk in practice, although most of her teammates aren’t much older than her.
“She’s the goalie you’ll always want back there,” sophomore defender Alexis Ulrich said. “She’s the most lighthearted freshman I know.”
The Mustangs had a 2-0 lead entering the third period. Warroad scored early in the third period, but Breck scored twice more, and when the final buzzer went off, Ulrich could not believe it, and she had a surprising initial thought.
“‘What have we done?’” Ulrich said. “It was more of a shock. … You want to leave your mark and your legacy. That’s something we’ve talked about a lot this year is leaving our legacy.”
When Ulrich entered the struggling program, she was doubtful her teams would be able to compare with teams past.
“When I first came here, four years ago, I was like, ‘I don’t know if we’re ever going to make it there.’” Ulrich said. “I’m going to be honest. Being able to level up to what the expectation is, I think, is super cool.”
The 2026 state championship win will be commemorated with a fifth banner. The Breck players are young, so many of these Mustangs will get to see it in the years to come.
“I see those banners every day,” sophomore forward Mackenna Schlieman said. “Seeing those banners, and knowing I was on that team, it’s super cool.”
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First Period Updates
Warroad wins the opening face off, and the game is underway.
Six minutes into the game, and both teams have had moments of sustained possession. Breck has generated the best chance so far, a 2-on-1 blocked by a Warroad defender.
Shots on goal are tied at four with 6:55 remaining in the period. Olivia Anthony had a great 1-on-1 chance for Warroad, but Breck goalie Clara Milinkovich saved it.
GOAL BRECK! After a faceoff win, Molly Larson flung a puck from the blue line, and it went through traffic and over Warroad goalie Payton Rolli’s blocker and into the top left corner. Annie Moos and Torrin Luoma with the assist — Breck 1, Warroad 0 — 2:55
END OF FIRST PERIOD: Breck 1, Warroad 0
Breck has a 7-6 shots on goal advantage.
Second Period Updates
The second period is underway.
Power play for Warroad 44 seconds into the second period. Alexis Ulrich gets two minutes for tripping.
GOAL BRECK! The Mustangs get a shorthanded goal. Warroad defender Lydia Fylling lost the puck at the Warriors’ blue line, and Breck’s Mackenna Schlieman grabbed it and buried the puck over Rolli’s glove — Breck 2, Warroad 0 — 14:39
Warroad’s power play is over.
Breck has peppered Rolli with shots in the past minute, but none have made it to the back of the net — 6:21
Power play for Warroad with 5:43 to play in the period. Breck’s Aleah LeFluer gets two minutes for interference.
Breck kills the power play.
Breck just had two breakaway opportunities, but the Mustangs couldn’t convert. It remains Breck 2, Warroad 0 with 2:22 remaining in the second period.
END OF SECOND PERIOD: Breck 2, Warroad 0
Warroad has a 21-17 shots on goal advantage.
Third Period Updates
Warroad wins the face off, and the third period is underway.
GOAL WARROAD! Jaylie French guided a puck into the net after Taylor Reese threw it toward the goal from the boards. It’s a much needed early period goal for the Warriors — Breck 2, Warroad 1 — 15:09
Power play for Warroad. Breck’s Kenadee Crable gets two minutes for high sticking — 12:00
Warroad gets called for a penalty, so it will be 4-on-4 for 1:14. Olivia Anthony goes to the box for cross checking.
Both teams are back to full strength.
GOAL BRECK! Ashley Babbitt buried a rebound after a pad save by Rolli. Taylor Hall and, Mackenna Schlieman with the assist — Breck 3, Warroad 1 — 7:46
Power play for Warroad. Elsa Artemiuk gets two minutes for slashing — 4:58
Breck kills the power play. Warroad generated two good shots, but Milinkovich saved them both — 2:58
Dual penalties for Breck and Warroad. Breck’s Crable and Warroad’s Reese get roughing minors — 1:40
GOAL BRECK! Mackenna Schlieman flings the puck at the open net from the Breck zone and it goes in, and the Mustangs have a 4-1 lead — 0:41
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