No. 2 Warroad hands Laker girls' hockey state quarterfinal loss
ST. PAUL - It took precisely 13:44 into the first period for the Detroit Lakes girls’ hockey team to realize the Class 1A state playoffs is a whole different level of hockey — especially against the defending champions.
That was the time of the third goal by the No. 2 seeded Warroad squad during the Class 1A quarterfinals inside the Xcel Energy Center Wednesday and it marked the start of a record-setting scoring barrage for the heavily-favorite Warriors.
Warroad added another goal to head into the first period 4-0, which led into a nine-goal second period — which is a new tournament scoring record for one period — to bury the Lakers for a final score of 13-1.
“In between those first two goals and the next two, we were really moving the puck well and putting a lot of shots on net, which were not going in,” said junior forward Sierra Hanowski, who finished with two goals and three assists. “But when we scored those two at the end of the period, it gave us plenty of momentum for the second period.”
Warroad senior defender Hannah Johnston put the Warriors (23-4-1) on the board 2:13 into the game on a shot from the right slot, with assists by junior defender Courtney Bethune and Hanowski.
The Warriors continued to maintain possession of the puck and went up 2-0 on the first of two back-to-back goals by junior forward Kayla Gardner, after DL didn’t pick up a loose puck in front of the net, thus exposing freshman goalie Veronica Badurek.
The Lakers were able to play some tighter defense the next eight minutes, but Gardner’s second goal 13:44 into the game, started pounding severe cracks in DL’s defense.
“We came into the game just worrying about ourselves and to play the right way,” said Warroad head coach David Marvin on his team being the heavy favorite in the game. “We just concentrated on getting that first win and staying out of the Ridder (the arena for consolation games).”
Junior forward Lisa Marvin added another goal just 34 seconds later and the rout was just getting started.
“There were numerous times where we made a bad play and Warroad capitalized on it,” said DL head coach Gretchen Norby. “We made similar mistakes like that during the season and got away with them. Against a team like Warroad, you usually don’t.”
The Lakers were not able to record their first shot on net until the 6:42 mark in the first period and finished with just two, compared to Warroad’s 16.
The game ended 50-14 in favor of Warroad.
“It was frustrating,” said senior DL forward Brianna Seebold, who is the team’s all-time leading scorer. “Warroad played some tight defense and we couldn’t generate any offense. They kept us outside and they would go down and score, because we were caught down low.”
Reality set in for the Lakers, as Norby knew her team needed to stay focused for their consolation game Thursday.
“We knew what Warroad was about,” Norby said. “After the first period, we knew were playing for tomorrow. It’s heart-breaking giving up 13 goals, but you need to learn how to bounce back.”
That led into a nine-goal second period, where Warroad outshot the Lakers (12-15-0) by a hefty 24-6 margin in the second.
By the time the period ended, Warroad had scored the most goals in one period in tournament history, as well as tallying the most goals by one team in one game.
“We were getting every bounce, every screen, every tip, it just seemed like everything was going in,” Hanowski said.
The Lakers were able to crack the scoreboard in the third period on Warroad goalie replacement Danielle Knott, which at face value may have not meant much, but it did to the Lakers.
The score came 7:53 into the period, as junior forward Emily Payne made a no-look pass off the boards behind the net to Seebold, who was planted in the right slot.
The goal proceeded another apparent goal by Payne, but it was called off due to interference of the goalie.
“That was frustrating, because we worked so hard for that first goal,” Seebold said of the disallowed score. “Emily (Payne) made a great pass to me, though. We wanted to get on the board so bad.”
Eighth grade forward Chandra Johnson was also credited with an assist.
Norby agreed the score was important for her team.
“If we take anything positive out of this game, is we got on the board and showed our players what it takes to score against good teams,” Norby said.
For the Warriors, getting out of the third period healthy was the main goal.
“You work on offending as least amount of people as possible and get the period done with, because it’s not fun for anyone,” Marvin said.
For Warroad, Gardner recorded a hat trick, while each of Hanowski, Demi Gardner and Lynn Astrup had two apiece.
Badurek finished with 27 saves during her busy two periods, while teammate Veronica Roy had 10 in the third.
Warroad’s Dayton Hilgert had eight saves and Danielle Knott five.
With one day off to prepare for the semifinals, Marvin said his team’s experience will be an advantage.
“We’ll have a good skate-in tomorrow,” the Warroad coach said. “We can rely on good experience to prepare, since they have been here before.”
The Warriors will play South St. Paul (21-7-0) in the Class 1A semifinals Friday at 11 a.m. inside the Xcel Energy Center.
The Lakers will face New Ulm (13-14-1) inside the Ridder Arena on the University of Minnesota campus at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Laker results
Class 1A State quarterfinals: (2) Warroad vs. Detroit Lakes, Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Lakers 0 0 1 – 1
Warriors 4 9 0 – 13
1st Period -- Scoring: WRRD - Johnston Goal (Bethune, Hanowski) 2:13. WRRD - Gardner Goal (Marvin) 5:20. WRRD - Gardner Goal (Gardner, Hanowski) 13:44. WRRD - Astrup Goal (Gardner, Berg) 14:18. Penalties: Berg, WRRD (Hooking, Minor, 2 min) 6:33.
2nd Period -- Scoring: WRRD - Marvin Goal (Astrup) 1:13. WRRD - Gardner Goal (Gardner, Marvin) 1:41. WRRD - Astrup Goal (PP) 4:39. WRRD - Egeland Goal (Hanowski, Johnston) 8:36. WRRD - Hanowski Goal (Egeland) 9:23. WRRD - Gardner Goal (Marvin, Gardner) 9:53. WRRD - Gardner Goal (Gardner, Pelland) 12:24. WRRD - Berg Goal (Wilmer) 15:49. WRRD - Hanowski Goal (Egeland, Nelson) 16:15. Penalties: Larsen, DL (Hooking, Minor, 2 min) 4:17. Larsen, DL (Hooking, Minor, 2 min) 4:17. Carr, WRRD (Checking, Minor, 2 min) 4:40. Berg, WRRD (Hooking, Minor, 2 min) 16:39. Raboin, DL (Checking, Minor, 2 min) 16:46.
3rd Period -- Scoring: DL - Seebold Goal (PP) (Payne, Johnson) 7:53. Penalties: Egeland, WRRD (Checking, Minor, 2 min) 3:49. Johnston, WRRD (Tripping, Minor, 2 min) 7:04. Schaible, WRRD (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 9:54. Schaible, WRRD (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 9:54. Seebold, DL (Tripping, Minor, 2 min) 11:24. Gardner, WRRD (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 11:55.
Shots on goal – DL 2 6 6 – 14…Warr 16 24 10 – 50.
Saves – DL (Veronica Badurek) 27, (Veronica Roy) 10…Warr (Dayton Hilgert) 8, (Danielle Knott) 5.