In the end, it was experience that separated the Loyola and Barrington girls hockey teams in the state championship game at the United Center.

That was also true at the beginning — something that Loyola coach Conor Sedam, whose team made its third straight trip to the United Center, emphasized to the Ramblers before they beat the Fillies 5-3 in the state final on Friday, March 18.

“The first five minutes of the game are going to be key,” Sedam said of his pre-game message. “We had an opportunity to put them on their heels while they’re still getting adjusted to the surroundings and getting used to playing at the United Center.”

Loyola jumped on Barrington almost immediately.

Junior forward Tess Dettling, a skilled Yale commit, scored a power-play goal four minutes, five seconds into the first period. The Fillies (23-4-2) held the Ramblers scoreless for the rest of the period, but Loyola controlled the puck the majority of the first, and its best offensive players — Dettling (two goals), junior center Anne Bloomer (two goals, one assist) and junior forward Val Caldwell (one goal, one assist) — all created quality chances that Barrington sophomore goalie Eryn Cooley denied.

“They got outworked in the beginning,” Barrington coach Rob Renner said. “Our first period was flat, flat, flat. I think it was the whole UC thing. That’s what I was a little concerned (about).”

The Ramblers (19-3-5) were able to extend their lead in the second period. They built a 3-0 advantage before Barrington junior forward Abbey Brush scored with 4.1 seconds remaining in the second. Senior forward Andrea Renner, who was one of the skilled players Loyola concentrated on limiting, scored two goals in the final 1:12 of the game to make the final score 5-3.

The Ramblers finished with five goals, yet Cooley was the Fillies’ stand-out player for much of the game. She finished with 29 saves to keep Barrington in the game until the Ramblers pulled away in the third period.

“I thought she played a really good game,” Bloomer said.

Rob Renner, who is Andrea Renner’s father, added: “She really came through when she needed to.”

Cooley’s effort wasn’t enough, ultimately. But the way she played at the United Center — and in Barrington’s journey to get there — reinforced her status as an important building block for the future if she chooses to play high school hockey as a junior.

A great deal will be different for Barrington next year. Andrea Renner, defenseman Lauren Rogers, all-state defenseman Maureen Hogan and all-state forward Nicole Guagliardo are all seniors. Rob Renner said he will no longer be the team’s coach, adding that he expects Dave Tilles to replace him.

Rob Renner said about nine or 10 current eighth graders are in line to join Barrington next season. The Fillies will have a team — unlike in 2014-15, when they didn’t have enough players to field one — but it will likely be very young. Seven freshmen from this year’s squad are poised to return.

The potential is there, however, to return to the United Center at some point.

“They’re going to be very good in a couple of years,” Rob Renner said.

Eric Van Dril is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.

Twitter: @VanDrilSports