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The Luverne girls’ hockey team played two tough opponents in the opening rounds of the state hockey tournament.
The Cardinals faced off against Orono in the quarterfinals at the Xcel Energy Center Feb. 22, losing 6-0 to a seasoned Spartan team.
For their consolation semifinal game, Luverne faced a familiar Mankato East team at TRIA Rink in St. Paul Feb. 23, falling 5-3 to the Cougars.
The Luverne girls finished the year 23-8 in regular and post-season play.
The Cardinals were the Section 3A Champs this year with a 14-0 Big South Conference record.
Class A Quarterfinal
Orono 6, LHS 0
The Luverne girls’ hockey team took on the 24-3-4 Orono Spartans in the Class A Quarterfinal hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 22, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, losing 6-0 to a tough team.
“Orono is a very good team,” LHS head coach Tony Sandbulte said. “Their team depth was very impressive and ultimately the difference in the game.”
Luverne entered the game 23-6 with a young team consisting of three seniors, one junior, two sophomores, five freshmen, six eighth-graders and one seventh-grader.
Orono senior goalie Celia Dahl faced only 13 shots from the Cardinals in the game.
Luverne’s attempted goals came from eighth-grader Tenley Behr with three, freshman Ella Apel with one, senior Mallory Nelson with one, sophomore Payton Behr with two, seventh-grader Ellie Van Batavia with one, senior Kamryn Van Batavia with three, eighth-grader Macy Edstrom with one and eighth-grader Rylee Kurtz with one shot.
Luverne’s goalie, senior Mallory Von Tersch, defended 39 shots in the game, letting six pucks slip through for goals.
Scoring for Orono in the first period were Mae Grandy at 5:43, Macy Rasmussen at 7:07 and Zoe Lopez at 11:12
In the second period Maddy Kimbrel scored at 5:21 and Zoe Lopez got her second goal at 10:09.
In the third period Maddy Kimbral added Orono’s last goal at 12:40.
The Spartan win sent them to a Class A Semifinal game against Proctor/Hermantown Friday, Feb. 24 in the Xcel Energy Center.
Luverne’s loss sent them to a consolation semifinal game against Mankato East at the TRIA rink Thursday, Feb. 23.
Class A Consolation Semifinal
Mankato East 5, LHS 3
In the Cardinals’ second hockey game of the tournament, they faced a familiar opponent, Mankato East, Feb. 23, at the TRIA Rink in St. Paul.
Having played the Cougars twice this year already, losing close games 3-4 Dec. 10 and 1-2 Dec. 28, Luverne was aware of changes they may need to make to win.
Unfortunately, plans and execution do not always come together.
Luverne lost to Mankato East 5-3 and ended the Cardinals’ state hockey experience this year.
“Mankato East had our number this year. I felt we played really well; however, we didn’t get the bounce or calls in this one,” Sandbulte said.
“They scored a couple of early power-play goals that gave them leverage the rest of the way.”
The Cougars started the game strong with Luverne on their heels after building a 3-0 lead in the first period.
In the second period senior Kamryn Van Batavia scored a power play goal for Luverne at 12:15 unassisted.
After two periods Luverne was on the board but still trailed Mankato East 3-1.
In the third period the Cougars scored at 4:43 to go ahead 4-1.
Not to be outdone, Kamryn Van Batavia scored her second goal at 7:02 on another power play to cut the lead in half, 4-2.
Eighth-grader Isabella Steensma scored at 15:46 in the third period assisted by fellow eighth-grader Macie Edstrom, bringing Luverne one goal closer to tying the game at 4-3.
At 16:38 in the third period, on a power play, Mankato East slipped in one more goal to ice the contest and dash any hopes the Cardinals had of going into overtime.
““Overall, I’m very proud of our hockey team and the season they had,” Sandbulte said. “It was another fun and memorable season.”
The Cougars had 14 total shots on goal in the game. Senior Mallory Von Tersch had three get past her in the first period, two on power plays.
After that Von Tersch hunkered down and was able to stop several break-aways by a quick Mankato East team.
Luverne was able to get 41 shots on the Cougar goalie in the game, with only three getting past her pads.