Consolation bracket . . .

[So, the next morning – after a good night’s sleep to digest the Pazzaluna pizza – we checked out of the Hotel 340 and headed for Ridder Arena at the ‘U.’  We were the first game in the consolation bracket, taking on Hutchinson who had been steamrollered by Blake on day one.  In fact, the Alex – Red Wing was the only competitive game in the first round. We were pretty confident.  I forgot to mention we visited with Ashley Holmes at the ‘X’ on the first day.  Ashley, of course, played for our state champion team in 2008, played 4 years of D-1 hockey at North Dakota, was an assistant coach at Alex last year, and is now an assistant coach for Augsburg.  She was there scouting for future Augies, loves her job, and looks great!  We also saw alums from last year’s team, Melissa Drown and Taylor Ellingson.  There were probably more, but the mind is weak and the memories fleeting.]

[When your telephoto lens does not allow you to capture the entire team in one photo.]

[The coaches show “good spacing” on the bench.  It prevents the other team from being able to double-team them individually.]

[Amy Jost (33), junior goalie]

[Nicole Bartels (23), senior defense]

[Kaitlin Leary (26), sophomore defense]

[Kristin Trisvig (15), freshman forward]

[Lauren Niska (21), junior forward]

[McKenzie Revering (29), sophomore forward.  It’s actually rather depressing to realize that I have undergarments older than most of these kids!]

[Yay, team!]

[I still haven’t a clue about what goalies talk about?]

[Back to Cossetta’s for heroes after the game!!!]

[And we’re off – the Cards on the attack.]

[Hanah Hansen (11) and McKenna Ellingson (24) fight to keep it in the zone.]

[If that’s a ‘7,’ it’s Sam Klimek (37).]

[GOOAAALLLL!  Nicole Bartels scored 17 seconds after Tigers had scored, about 4 minutes into the game.  Assists went to Niska and Leary.]

[Oooooh, Hanah was right there!  And the pesky puck exits, stage left.]

[Ye olde defense pair of yesteryear, now forwards, McKenzie and Lauren are in deep.]

[Kristin forechecking (I think banks charge a user fee for that now?).]

[Not another goalie standing on her head!!!]

[We appear to be in the 2nd period now.  The first period ended at 1 – 1, Hutch was giving us a tougher time than I thought.  I obviously forgot my scoreboard responsibilities.]

[Go, McKenna!]

[Lauren’s on a 1-in-5 attack mode.]

[Oooops, low and outside.  Ball four!  The Cards took 4 penalties in the 2nd period, the Tigers scored two power play goals.  We were down 3 – 1 and not playing very well.  And yet . . . it still seemed like we would win if we just cranked it up a notch.]

[We started the 3rd period still short-handed for almost the full two minutes.  We thought if we could just get a “shortie” then, we’d be within one goal and game on!  We had had some solos in on a goal but hadn’t scored on them.  But this time, probably our best at this, Mari Wosepka (18), got a steal and . . .]

[GOOAAAAALLLLL!  We’re back in the game . . . and then some, as the goal really opened the flood gates.]

[The Cards started flying all over the ice.  It was really fun to watch!]

[McKenna’s in . . . ]

[Then Sam . . . ]

[Lauren . . . ]

[Alexis Heckert (20) . . . the Cards were keeping constant pressure.]

[A crowd at the goal . . . ]

[The Super is screaming, “Keep it in!”]

[And then Rev blasts one . . . right down our sight line.]

[GOOOAAAALLLLL!   From Hanah and Lauren.  The game is now tied.  🙂  ]

[But we’re not stopping now . . . ]

[Kristin’s in again . . . ]

[The Tiger goalie is under fire . . . ]

[GOOAAAALLLL!  Nicole’s 2nd of the game and the Cards have the lead!]

[Woo-woo!]

[Not done yet?]

[Uffda, that was close!]

[Nice photo, Obert!]

[Kristin again . . .]

[The Cards work ole Phil Jackson’s triangle offense . . .]

[A Tiger is double-teamed behind the goal . . . ]

[Alexis and Mari with pressure . . .]

[Who dat?]

[Hanah and Kristin awaiting the arrival of the little black disc.]

[Storming again . . . ]

[The goalie’s sending out SOS signals!]

[Another nice shot, Obert!  Somewhere in all that I lost a GOOOAAALLLL by Allison O’Kane, from Hanah, giving us a 5 – 3 lead, safe enough with time winding down. ]

[Nicole got an empty-netter, length of the ice shot with .7 seconds left, for her hat trick and a final score of 6 – 3.]

[The Cards were more than impressive with that 5-goal 3rd period.  We would now be playing in the consolation final on Saturday morning.]

I put a dollar in a change machine. Nothing changed.  ~  George Carlin

Up next:  Even more STATE.