Dodge County
After making a run to the Section 2A Girls’ Hockey Championship, the River Lakes Stars secured one of eight spots to the Class A State Girls’ Hockey Tournament. Seeded eighth, the Stars earned a first-round match-up versus the top-seeded and Section 1A Champion Dodge County Wildcats.
The Stars couldn’t break through against the Wildcats and its goalie Ida Huber, and fell by a 2-0 final to the eventual state champions in the Class A quarterfinals from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Huber would make 21 saves in the Wildcats’ shutout win. Meanwhile, the Wildcats’ Nora Carstensen provided all the offense the team needed and more against the Stars with a goal 7:11 into the first period, and another goal 5:36 into the second period.
Makayla Schrieber-Horn and Sophia Hess led the Stars in shots on goal with four each.
Stars goalie Kaydence Roeske finished with a save percentage of 94% (33 of 35) in the first-round loss.
Proctor/Hermantown
Dropping down into consolation action, the Stars fell into an early 1-0 deficit on a goal by Proctor/Hermantown Mirage’s Grace Nichols – just 1:23 into the first period. This goal proved to be the winning one.
The Stars team was unable to get a goal into the net for a second consecutive game, giving up three more goals in the second period, en route to the season-ending 4-0 loss to the fifth-seeded and Section 7A Champion Mirage from TRIA Rink in St. Paul.
Mya Gunderson earned the Mirage’s second goal 20 seconds into the second period. Avery Milbridge added the third goal 6:46 into the period, and Elaa Kaups the fourth goal 8:07 into the period.
The Stars took just seven shots on goal versus Mirage goalie Neelah McLeod in the shutout loss. Ayla McLellan and Sophia Hess led the Stars in shots on goal with two each.
Stars goalie Kaydence Roeske faced 45 shots on goal in the defeat and finished with a save percentage of 91% (41 of 45).
With the loss, the Section 2A Champion Stars finished the season 14-14-1. According to the team roster, the Stars program loses seven seniors to graduation:
Madison Wendlandt, Abby Storms, Ayla McLellan, Lucy Vettleson, Kienna St. John, Sophia Hess, and Kaydence Roeske.