Staff
Annalise Hayes scored the equalizer with 23.1 seconds left in regulation time, then Abby Plourde and Janelle Kaemingh cashed in during the shootout, to give the Muskie girls’ hockey team a 2-1 win over the host Dryden Eagles last night.
The victory clinched the season series 3-1 in favour of the Muskies (11-1) and also put the squad on the brink of locking down first place in NorWOSSA over the Eagles (7-2-0-1).
Any combination of Muskie wins and Dryden losses equalling two will ensure Fort High enjoys home-ice advantage throughout the league playoffs.
Fort High was two players short when McKenna Corvello beat Sydney Beck to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead at 8:08 of the second.
But with time running out and Beck on the bench for an extra skater, Avery Cates spotted Hayes alone at the side of the net, who made no mistake with a shot that beat Eagles’ goalie Jessie Pettinger.
In the shootout, Plourde and Kaemingh both solved Pettinger while Beck stoned Corvello and Leah Balla to ice the victory.
The Muskies next face the Bemidji Lumberjacks in an exhibition game this Thursday.
Then they’ll play Part 2 of their annual “Border Battle” against International Falls on Jan. 31 at Bronco Arena.
