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Chisago Lakes 3

Wright County 1

Winning their 10th game in a row was just the tip of the iceberg.  After defeating Wright County 3-1 last Tuesday, the Chisago Lakes girls hockey team pulled into a tie with them for the conference title, leaving them one win away from at least a share of the North Suburban championship. It was a good night all around.

“We played pretty consistent.  We didn't let them back into the game and shut them down offensively,” said Al Magnuson, Chisago Lakes head girls hockey coach.  “It's just hard to beat us on our home ice.  The girls knew that they needed that win and they got it.”

They got it by scoring one goal in each of the three periods. Meanwhile on defense, Jackie Weiden was solid, stopping 18 of 19 shots. Lexi Medellin first got Chisago on the scoreboard in the first period with an even strength goal.  Rhiannon Sauter picked up the lone assists on the play as Chisago walked into the locker room at the end of the first with a 1-0 lead. 

In the second, Nicole Grossmann added to the ‘Cats lead with the second goal of the game.  This time, Ariel Novak dished out the helper, pushing the Chisago lead to 2-0.

Even with a two goal lead, that doesn't mean that Wright County didn’t make things interesting. Wright County scored their first goal of the game on the power play, pulling within one at 2-1 at the end of two.  Plagued by several penalties, the Wildcats let County back in.

“You always have to worry when a team pulls within one,” replied Magnuson.  “All of that happened when he started to take a lot of penalties.  I told the girls that all we needed to do was stay five on five.”

Or five on four in their favor.  Working on a power play of their own in the third, Chisago Lakes jumped back in front by two on a goal from Lexy Parenteau, putting the finishing touches on a 3-1 Chisago win.  The victory improved the 'Cats winning streak to 10 games, moved their overall record to 16-7-1, and more importantly, provided further proof that they are peaking at just the right time.

“The girls were sky-high after the game,” smiled Magnuson.  “We just did what we needed to do.  We put ourself in position to tie them for the league title and that's what we wanted to do.  Wright County is a great team and to beat them is quite an accomplishment.”

Chisago Lakes 3

Wright County 1

             1  2  3  F

Wright County --- 1 --- 1

Chisago Lakes   1    1 1 3

Scoring:

First Period-

1) CL L. Medellin (Sauter) 2:16.

Second Period-

2) CL Grossmann (Novak) 5:15; 3) WC #14 (pp) (#5).

Third Period-

4) CL Parenteau (Rammer).

Saves-

Weiden- 18

Totino-Grace 5

Chisago Lakes 4

As it turned out, in terms of the conference race, the ‘Cats win over Wright County didn't matter after Totino-Grace came to town last Friday and downed the Wildcats 5-4.  With the loss, Chisago finishes the season with an overall record of 16-8-1 and a third place finish in the North Suburban.

The Eagles jumped all over Chisago early in the came, thanks to several defensive breakdowns.  Totino scored their first two goals within the first five minutes of the game, taking a 2-0 lead late into the period until Nicole Grossmann struck for an unassisted goal late in the first, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

After the Eagles added to their lead four minutes into the second, the Wildcats woke up, especially on offense.  First, Parenteau rippled the back of the net with her second goal in as many games,  That goal came on the power play, bringing the score to 3-2 after two.  Then in the third, Grossmann scored back-to-back goals over the span of six minutes, giving her a hat trick and giving Chisago a 4-3 lead with 10 minutes left. 

All they needed to do was hold on.  However, the Eagles netted the equalizer on another Chisago breakdown as Erin Bennek cruised in on net for her second goal of the game, tying the game 4-4.  The momentum had switched back to Totino.

“It was a defensive breakdown again,” replied Magnuson.  “One of our girls coughed up the puck at the point and they buried it.  They put the puck in the net and that's something we didn't want to see but it happens.  Give them credit.  They converted on their opportunities and we didn’t.”

In other words, the Wildcats had their chances to late in the game, putting 15 shots on goal in the third period and coming up with two goals.  For the game, Eagles goalie Nicole Mertz finished with 35 saves on 39 shots.

Tied 4-4, it came down to the final two minutes of the game.  With 2:10 left in the third, a Chisago penalty put the Eagles on the power play. Magnuson and the ‘Cats thought they had got out of it when moments later, Grossmann was hauled down on a breakaway.  However, there was no call, leaving the Eagles with an extrra skater as time expired.

Finally, with 15 seconds left on the clock, Anna McDonald scored her second goal of the game, putting the Eagles in front 5-4 with a power play tally.  The Wildcats didn't have time to respond.  The end result was a one-goal win by Totino-Grace, snapping the Wildcats winning streak at 10 games and giving them a loss heading into the section playoffs which begins this week.

“We should've had 8-9 goals in that game.  We gave up some big plays and they have kids who can bury the puck when they get the chance.  We couldn't do that.  We hit pipes, bodies, everything in the way.  We just couldn't buy a goal,” remarked Magnuson.  “After the game, the girls didn't take it real well, but as the night went on, we kept on reminding them to put things into perspective.  It could be worse, it could be us losing in the playoffs instead of the final game of the regular season. If we're going to lose, it's better to do it now instead of a week from now.  I think that helped the girls relax because by the end of the night, they were fine.”

Up next is  the section playoffs where the Wildcats, the number two seed, will host a difficult Duluth East squad on Thursday at home.  The winner will move onto play the winner of the Cambridge-Isanti/St. Francis game in the section semifinals on Saturday in Cloquet.

Totino-Grace 5

Chisago Lakes 4

             1  2  3  F

Totino-Grace     2 1 2 5

Chisago Lakes   1    1  2  4

Scoring:

First Period-

1) TG #23 (pp) (#33) 1:54; 2) TG #11 (#33, #10) 5:08; 3) CL Grossmann (pp) (unassisted) 10:30.

Second Period-

4) TG #10 (#11) 4:31; 5) Parenteau (pp) (unassisted) 7:33.

Third Period-

6) CL Grossmann (Boynton) 1:05; 7) CL Grossmann (pp) (L. Medellin) 6:45; 8) TG #23 (unassisted) 7:43; 9) TG #10 (pp) (#21) 16:45.

Saves-

Weiden- 26

     

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