Wingers fall in overtime to Mound-Westonka

In its second consecutive overtime game the Red Wing girls hockey team came up short in a 5-4 loss to fifth-ranked Mound-Westonka Tuesday in Red Wing.

The Wingers (3-2, 1-0 Missota) overcame a 3-2 deficit going into the third period but could not hold the lead and gave up the game winning goal less than a minute into overtime.

“It was a Jekyll and Hyde type game,” Red Wing head coach Scott Haley said. “There were moments we played well and others where we didn’t.”

Red Wing sophomore Nicole Schammel led the Wingers with a goal and two assists, including the break-away goal that put them up 4-3 late in the final period. Sophomore Emily Stegora and freshman Reagan Haley each added a goal and an assist. Senior Elle Anderson also scored and senior goalie Lisa Nibbe had 34 saves.

The White Hawks (6-0) got a hat trick from senior Emily Halvarson who scored the game winner on a rebound in overtime. She also had an assist. Grace Holmen had a goal and two assists, while Jessica Nkhata netted a goal and had an assist to keep Mound-Westonka undefeated. Samantha Scobee made 45 saves.

“I thought the two teams were very balanced,” Scott Haley said. “I think it was just a bad match-up. They were bigger, we were faster. The things we struggle with they took advantage of.”

Reagan Haley put Red Wing ahead in the first period but a power- play goal by the White Hawks tied the game. Mound-Westonka took the momentum into the second period and led 3-2 into the final period. Nibbe said the team was frustrated with its play in the second and came out with renewed passion in the third. The Wingers got the equalizing goal from Anderson 9 minutes, 54 seconds into the third and took their first lead since three minutes into the second period on Schammel’s goal.

“We lost the second period and we wanted to step it up and win the third,” Nibbe said.

The comeback was thwarted by Nkhata’s rebound goal with two minutes remaining in regulation and the game winner was scored early in extra time.

Both teams did a good job of killing penalties with only one power-play goal for each squad despite the Wingers committing four penalties and Mound-Westonka having five penalties. The White Hawks size advantage made it difficult to create good scoring chances, Scott Haley said. The Wingers outshot Mound-Westonka 49-39 but many of the attempts had little opportunity of finding the back of the net, he said.

The White Hawks did a good job of creating deflections, Scott Haley said and he liked how his team played but sometimes the breaks go the other way. Playing a tough early season schedule will help the team down the road in sections, he said.

The Wingers will look to rebound at home Saturday against Albert Lea.

Tags: red wing, sports, prep, hockey