Mirage Tournament Run Ends

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Feb 26

Kerry Rodd-NSO

The season came to an abrupt end for the Proctor-Hermantown-Marshall girls hockey team on Friday with a 4-3 loss to Burnsville in the Minnesota State Class AA Girls High School Hockey Tournament.

After falling in their opening game, the Mirage hoped to redeem themselves in the consolation bracket. However, a late goal by the Blaze ended their dreams of coming home with hardware on their first visit to the state tournament.

Things started well for the Mirage with Steph Strapple notching the first goal of the game with Julia Gilbert assisting at 7:39 of the first period. However, the excitement didn’t last long as the Blaze answered only 25 seconds later with a goal from Jennifer Mahoney that tied the game at 1-1. That is how things settled after the first period.

Burnsville took a 2-1 lead just 33 seconds into the second period when Amanda Colin scored, but the Mirage struck back with goals from Emma Stauber and Gilbert at 7:25 and 9:24. Stauber’s goal was assisted by Allison Jones. Gilbert’s goal, which was a power play goal, was assisted by Stauber giving the Mirage a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately for the Mirage, the Blaze were able to get a power play goal by Colin’s with only 38 seconds remaining in the second period to tie the game at 3-3, which set up a wild third period.

With just 1:21 remaining in the final stanza, Kasey Evans powered a shot past PHM goalie Anjua Morris for the game winning marker. Assisting on Evans goal were Britta Nelson and Paige Skaja.

The Mirage put 35 shots on Alex Hall, who made just enough saves to grab her team the win.

Burnsville will play for the consolation championship of Class AA, while the Mirage end their great run to The Show with a record of 20-8-2.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com