Written By: Gary Demopoulos

Team Minnesota gained its first HNIB Girls Summer Showcase title since 2008 with a 5-1 win over two-time defending champion Massachusetts Preps in the 2011 Girls Championship game.

Minnesota, which finished the round-robin a perfect 5-0, jumped to a 2-0 lead after the first period on a pair of goals by junior Amy Menke, the first assisted by Karina Marette, the second by Savannah Quandt.

Mass. Preps, which won the New England Division with a 3-1-1 mark, pulled to within 2-1 at the 13-minute mark of the second period on a strike by Casey Leveillee off a pass from Caitlyn Ryan.

But, it took Minnesota just 18 seconds to respond, when junior defenseman Paige Haley, who finished as the tournament's scoring champion with 13 points, blasted one home from the right point to give Minnesota it's two-goal lead back at 3-1.

Sidney Morin and Claire Mancheski added third period goals for the champions, who fell to Mass. Preps in the 2010 title game by a 2-0 score.