Late Spark Keeps Huskies Close vs Top 10 Team

It didn't feel too good for the Owatonna High School girls hockey team entering the third period against No. 10-A Rochester Lourdes/Dover-Eyota Tuesday at the Four Seasons Centre. The Huskies, who ultimately lost 5-3, trailed just 3-1 but had been held without a shot on net in the second period, even with a full two-minute power play.

The Huskies opened the third with a couple of shots on goal but the Eagles extended their lead to 4-1 at 4:34. The Huskies got a jolt of life by scoring a pair of goal less about minutes apart a bit more than midway through the period.

Grace Wolfe followed up a great scoring chance by Molly Achterkirch at 10:09 with her fourth goal of the season. Less than two minutes later Sarah Snitker snapped off a shot from the top of the left circle that floated through traffic for her second goal of the season, coming at 12:04.

The fairly full arena erupted for the hometown team with the Huskies climbing to within 4-3 of the high-powered Eagles. Lourdes snuffed out the Huskies hopes with a goal 42 seconds later by future Union (Division I) player Allison Smith drove home the final goal of the 5-3 non-conference win for Lourdes/DE.

Owatonna opened the scoring late in the first when Ezra Oien scored her team-leading 15th goal 59 seconds before intermission. Lourdes answered 19 seconds later as Sacred Heart commit (Division I) Emma Schmitz notched her 15th goal of the campaign.

Lourdes out shot OHS 17-5 after the first period, but the score was level at 1-1. For the game, the Eagles out shot the Huskies 38-13. OHS goalie and future Bemidji State University (Division II) soccer player Asia Buryska kept the Huskies in the game with numerous stellar saves.

Owatonna (8-5-1) plays Century at Graham Arena Thursday, January 9 at 5:30 pm before hosting their cancer night fundraiser Saturday, January 11 against Rochester Mayo with a 7:30 pm varsity start.

Lourdes (10-7) faces a showdown with Faribault Friday night in Rochester in a game that will likely determine the top seed in Section 1A. Lourdes/DE beat the Falcons in the section final last winter.

Owatonna's junior varsity edged Dodge County Tuesday night 2-1 in overtime. CJ Frear-Boerner scored the game winner.