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Apple Valley senior Marie Moran and her super-soph sister Makayla are preparing to lead the Eagles into the Section 3AA playoffs.

Where Eagles Dare

Apple Valley’s soaring Moran sisters have their sights set on a trip to the state tournament

For years, the Moran sisters of Apple Valley have been catching the eyes of fans across the state.

Two years ago, Mandy (currently a sophomore on St. Olaf’s hockey team), Marie (senior at Apple Valley), and Makayla Moran (sophomore at Apple Valley) had a combined 130 points in the 2019-2020 season alone. At times, the three had an opportunity to play on the same line together.

Marie remembers liking the idea of ‘Moran from Moran and Moran’ being announced after a goal. “I thought that would be really funny,” she said. “If I remember correctly it happened on our first, first shift and it was so cool to hear all of us be announced.”

Linda Moran, the girls’ mother, explains how that same game is one of her favorite memories. “Favorite memory, the 2019-2020 high school season as a whole. Mandy just came back from an ACL injury and all three Moran girls had the opportunity to be on the same line together. On the ice the Moran girls had a pretty special connection.”

Sophomore forward Makayla Moran recently surpassed 200 points scored in her prep career, which began in seventh grade.  Allen Photo Works

The connection on Apple Valley’s team really is unique, the Eagles currently have three sets of sisters on the team; Avery Ryan (sophomore) and Mazy Ryan (senior), Annabelle Cozy (freshman) and Taylor Cozy (senior), and the high-scoring Morans.

According to head coach Auggie Erdall, having sisters on the Apple Valley team is nothing new. “I believe we’ve had nine sets of sisters that have played varsity hockey at the same time,” Erdall recalls. “There have been 12 siblings total who have come through and another four in the very near future – including our first twins.”

With extensive experience coaching siblings, Erdall uses a battery metaphor to describe what it is like. “Most of the siblings we’ve had are just like AA batteries – when they’re lined up the right way, everything works great! But when they are lined up wrong, things can be really bad, and get that way in a hurry.”

For the past two years, everything has lined up just right for Makayla and Marie Moran.

Makayla has averaged over two points per game in each of the last three seasons for the Eagles.  Allen Photo Works

Makayla recently reached 200 career points as just a sophomore, and is currently the second highest point producer in the state of Minnesota for the class of 2025.

Marie, a senior who is committed to St. Cloud State for next year, recently switched to defense and has tallied 155 career points (71 goals and 84 assists).

“(Marie) will go out of her way on a daily basis to make sure every teammate (including, and maybe even more specifically JV players) are noticed and made to feel important,” says coach Erdall.

“Just this Tuesday after varsity practice, I watched her go back on the ice on her own accord for over an hour to spend 1-on-1 time with a JV player when the ice was open, just working on some skills that she so badly wanted to improve because Marie makes them look so easy.”

The elder Moran sister also still keeps in touch with many former Eagles hockey

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Senior Marie Moran has committed to play next year at St. Cloud State University.

players. “A lot of the seniors and juniors that were on that team (two years ago) that have graduated I still talk to every day and they come back to watch our games and it feels like we are still a big family,” says Marie.

Though Marie will be graduating this year, the sisters will remain close. Marie will only be about an hour and a half away from her little sister Makayla.

“The connection that is between me and my sisters is something incredible,” says Marie, “and not many people have the opportunity to play with their siblings in the same sport, and even on the same line, and I’ve never been more thankful for it.”

Makayla, who is one of the most coveted college prospects in the class of 2025, will soon have some decisions of her own to make. Starting June 15, Makayla will be allowed to communicate with Division I colleges, after that it will be up to her on where she decides to play college hockey.

“While completely different from each other, they both mean so much more to this team and school than just what they can do offensively in hockey,” says Erdall. “Outstanding athletes often have tunnel-vision, are arrogant, dismissive of others or just plain mean. These two could not be more opposite of that.”

Makayla has scored 114 goals in 94 varsity games.  Allen Photo Works

For now, both sisters are focused on the current season. “As a senior my biggest goal is to reach state,” says Marie. “In the past, we’ve been really close but never been able to reach it. Apple Valley hasn’t made it to state since 2003, so it’s been 20 years. This would be such a huge achievement in not just my career but for my teammates, too.”

The Eagles have an excellent shot at making it to the state tournament this year, and will almost certainly be the section’s top seed entering the playoffs. Currently in Section 3AA, the Eagles are the only team ranked in the Janjet Top 30 at #12 in Class AA.

Marie Moran recently passed 150 total points in her Apple Valley varsity career.  Allen Photo Works

“The biggest compliment I can give this group is they’ve found a way to grind out a lot of wins in tight games when it would be easier to get sour or turn against each other,” says coach Erdall. “Sometimes it’s goofy puck luck, a slow start or taking their feet off the gas pedal for a stretch. But they rally together to fight until the final horn. They are a resilient bunch and it will serve them well down the stretch and into the playoffs."

As the regular season winds down, Marie likes the unity the team has developed as they prepare for the playoffs. “We have bonded really well with not too many people graduating last year and we are really close-knit and together, always giving each other hugs and having a blast during games,” she says.

“This is my last year and last chance to make it to state and if we make it, it would be my perfect ending to my high school career.”

Lauren McQuillan can be reached at lmcquillan2023@gmail.com