CHAMPIONSHIP
Section 1 earns championship title with 4-1 win over Section 2

In an ironic end, the top one and two teams finished exactly as their sections would suggestion, Section 1 topping Section 2, 4-1.  

All four cylinders were running on point for Section 1, with tape-to-tape passes and a lot of offensive pressure right from the opening puck drop. At 19:52 the pressure finally yielded a goal when Taylor Heise deflected the puck past Alexa Dobchuck for the 1-0 lead. Section 1 continued to control the game and the puck throughout the majority of the first half, forcing Dobcuck to be on point. Rachel Bielenberg came up with a big stop on Madison Fleming to keep Section 1’s lead at just one until 4:25 when Heise found the back of the net again, this time with a wrister and Section 1 skated to a 2-0 lead after one.

There must have been some pep talk in the lockerroom, as Section 2 came out flying in the second half, finally putting some pressure back into the Section 1 defensive zone. Section 2 looked like they might get on the board with a 3-on-2 rush, but Maragaret Flaherty made a great defensive move, using her body to get the puck and push it back the other way.

Reigniting a fire into Section 1 was Mckenzie Hauswirth when she scored on the wrap around to make the game 3-0. The game continued back and forth, each team with scoring chances. At 13:39 Section 1 struck again, this time Flaherty firing one from just outside the crease to widen the gap to four. Section 2 continued to shoot, but Alexis Baker stood tall, stopping 5 of 6 faced. Section 2 got on the board at 4:46 when Alexandra Beltz sent a backhanded pass right over to a wide open Sophie Pawlyshyn for the easy put away goal to make it 4-1. It looked like they might score again with just 33 seconds left when Chloe McEnelly had a breakaway opportunity but Section 1’s Baker came up with a big stop, further cementing the win. 

Section 8: 1, Section 4: 0

Section 8 goalies Jordyn Tomaszewski  (10 SOG) and Kiana Flaig (12 SOG) combined for the shutout and forward Elice Murphy out of Roseau notched the game’s only goal with just 1:25 left on the game clock to record the win.

Section 6: 5, Section7:  2

Section 6 jumped out to an early start with Emily King and Aliyah Lance creating a two-goal lead. The teams then traded goals, with Section 7’s Olyvia Opsahl netting the team’s first goal at 4:58, but Lolitah Fidler answered back 20 seconds later for Section 6 to end the half ahead 3-1. Madisen Drotts tipped in a shot from Kayla Kasel to put Section 7 within one, but Brianna Willier and Megan Marshall would close out the scoring and secure the win for Section 6.

Section 5: 4, Section 3: 0

Section 3 held Section 5 to just a one goal lead after  Myka Sutherland potted an early one in the first half. But Section 5 opened the second with three unanswered for the third place win. Sara McClanahan added two just 26 seconds apart early in the final half, and Megan McKenzie scored the team’s final goal. McClanahan ended the night with 3 points (2G,1A). Olivia Bizal and Samantha Miller combined for the shutout.