February 18

[The next morning – didn’t want to be here – consolation bracket at Ridder Arena on the U of M campus.]

[Gopher All Americans look down upon us – several are still playing.]

[Well, we’re here, ladies – let’s make the best of it.]

[One for all, and all for one!  ~  Alexandre Dumas]

[Dinkytown options: Erbert & Gerbert’s or Five Guys Burgers and Fries?]

[Mmmmmm, burrrrrr -gerrrrrr!]

[Facing the Northfield Raiders in their 2nd ever state tournament game.  They’re in maroon and gold – home ice advantage at Ridder?  Come to think of it, their school song is the Minnesota Rouser.]

[McKenna Ellingson (24) chases a Raider into a corner; Hanah Hansen (11) stands guard.]

[McKenna: Sometimes the rink can seem really lonely?]

[Kristin Trosvig (15)]

[Puck: Sometimes the rink can seem really lonely?]

[Just a guess, but the puck must be somewhere off to the left.]

[Mari Wosepka (18) circles in looking for the elusive black disc.]

[Oy!]

[Hanah crashes the net just in time to see Calley Richardson’s (7) first ever varsity goal!  It’s nice to know the puck does fit in the net.]

[And here we come again . . . ]

[Stop it!  It’s getting away!]

[McKenzie Revering (29) makes a kick stop . . . ]

[Setting up a shot from the point.]

[Something about the Ridder scoreboard – it’s really hard to see the numbers (apparently without totally changing your camera settings).  This must show the Cards ahead 1 – 0 after one.]

[A familiar sight in the first two games.  But we just couldn’t cash them in.  Tough goalies when you get to this level.  Here McKenna in alone with Rev as back up – but no goal.]

[Good run, though.]

[Hey, has anyone seen the puck?]

[Another offensive push, with Hanah and Lauren Niska (21).]

[Oooohhhhhhhhhhh!]

[I’d like to report a multi-player pile up at the east goal.]

[Here comes Rev and McKenna again.]

[And another goal pile-up.  Hello, State Farm?]

[Keep it in!]

[McKenna and Kristin hanging around the goal.  McKenna’s been there a lot – hope she doesn’t get picked up for loitering?]

[Traffic congestion around the goal again.]

[Despite more good chances, still 1 – 0 after two.]

[Lauren defending the point.]

[We have the Raider goalie’s full attention.  Only a sophomore, she played well.]

[More pressure on the Raiders.]

[Calley looking for another scoring opportunity.]

[Finally, GOOOAAALLLLL!  McKenzie Revering and Lauren Niska have been paired together on defense for four years now – they are definitely the core, with goalie Amy Jost, around which the team is built. When either gets control of the puck with some open ice ahead of them, you start inching toward the edge of your seat. If they skate through or around the defense, you stand up to watch. This was Rev’s (29) goal today making the final score 2 – 0. Ruthie said it was a beautful goal. I really didn’t see it because in anticipation of it I stood up and just started firing pictures.]

[OK, bring it on home.]

[Amazing, just like last year, the team saved their best games for the state tournament. We beat Northfield 2 – 0, the final score not as impressive as our overall play. We did everything well except for putting the puck in the net. Saturday morning, 9:00 am, we play New Prague for the consolation championship – we’ll be there!]

[Another good all around game.]

We get nose jobs all the time in the NHL, and we don’t even have to go to the hospital.  ~  Brad Park

Up next:  Gopher women’s hockey