It would be a happy bus ride down Highway 52 for the Rochester Lourdes Eagles as Emma Schmitz scored two goals, including the game winner :53 into overtime that beat the South St. Paul Packers 2-1 in the state Class A girls hockey quarterfinals at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
The Eagles had an opportunity with a five on three advantage for 1:18 but the couldn't capitalize on it. They would score the lone goal of the first period when Schmitz got the puck in the neutral zone, dribbled a few times, cut to the center slot and went left and put the puck in the net.
Neither team would tally in the second period. The Packers would even the score in the third period Brynn Sexauer, daughter of South St. Paul head football coach Chad Sexauer, rebounded Ella Reynolds shot into the net with 3:34 left in regulation time. The giant scoreboard didn't advance from the two ones so it was on to overtime.
It didn't take long for the Eagles to become the first Rochester school since 2007 to advance to a semifinal game. Schmitz drove through the center slot like the Green Line light rail train headed through downtown St. Paul and scored the game winner :53 into overtime.
Rochester Lourdes improved their record ro 18-10 and will face the Breck Mustangs in the Class A semifinals on Friday, February 21 at 1:30 PM at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. South St. Paul, playing in their 15th state tournament under head coach Dave Palmquist, fell to 19-8-1 and takes on the Luverne Cardinals in the consolation semifinals on Thursday, February 20 at noon at the TRIA Rink in downtown St. Paul.
No comments:
Post a Comment