Girls' hockey: Cards cap impressive run, home stand

By Jason Olson
SportsPrepZone Editor

Saturday afternoon wasn't just the end of the girls' hockey regular season schedule as Coon Rapids topped cross-town rival Anoka 3-2 at Cook Memorial Arena.  

It was a showcase of two of the younger teams in the area who have some very promising players. Anoka rostered 26 underclassmen compared to Coon Rapids ' 25 sophomores or younger players.

The win gives the Cardinals an 8-2-2 record in the second half of the season and even more important is the confidence and momentum that goes with the success of five-game winning streak.

"Yeah, it was a nice win, but we still have a lot to work on," said Coon Rapids coach Rob Potter after they overcome an early deficit with three goals then held off Anoka in the end.

The win ends a four game home stand in which Coon Rapids out scored the opposition 29-11.

Anoka was riding a three game winning streak, finishing the season 14-10-1 overall, 6-9-1 for sixth place in the Northwest Suburban Conference. The Cardinals finished fourth with an 8-6-2 mark, one game behind Champlin Park and even more behind champion No. 5 (AA) Elk River/Zimmerman (20-2-3, 13-1-2) and No. 15 (AA) Centennial (14-8-2, 11-3-2).

Anoka 's youth provided the highlights again, led by sophomore Katie Johnson scoring 68 seconds into the game with classmate McKenna Parent setting up the game's opening goal.  Johnson leads the Tornadoes with 18 goals and 31 points and is the only player to score more than six times.

Coon Rapids responded with three unanswered goals from junior Rachael Bona, eighth-graders Amy Schlagel and Tori Buckley before Anoka freshman Emilie Brigham scored with one second left in the second period, setting up what was a highly-intense third period.

"We're still learning now how to win," Potter said. Overcoming a 1-0 hole in the opening period was another sign that his very young squad is not only comprehending what the coach wants from the skaters, but they're figuring out how to hold on to the win a the same time, "And that's a mark of a great team."

Both teams came out physical and didn't let up until the final buzzer.

"Yeah, it was the most physical I've been in," said Cardinals junior goalie Crystal Amunrud who made 32 saves while holding off a flurry in the final seconds. "But we've really come together as a team and just played harder because we know we can win."

The final 15 seconds of the game was played with the puck within five feet of the Cardinals' goal, but a pile of bodies and some heads-up play by Amunrud helped to deny the rebound shots. She was busy all game as the Tornadoes out shot the home Cardinals 34-20.

Anoka coach Pete Hayes said the "firehouse hockey" played in the third period only helped to create that special playoff atmosphere. "We're going to get better over the next three to four years," he said after the team lost several close games including an 0-6 run in overtime games over the last two seasons.

Potter said his team came out slow, which allowed Anoka to take a 1-0 lead just 68 seconds into the game. "We weren't skating at full speed and we really weren't mentally into it," he said. The Cardinals responded quickly by scoring twice inside the opening seven minutes of the second period.

Both teams had their chances to score in the third period, but Potter was looking for more. "We can skate with any team, but this was the first time we came out in the third period and didn't eat them alive," he said.

Hayes moved senior Kristina Larson back to the blue line after being a four-year forward recently. "Moving her back gave us more veteran help and depth back there because we were getting a little thin," he said.

Anoka started sophomore Katie McLain for the second game, turning away 17 shots to lose for the first time in seven games this season. Her .900 saves percentage over 263 minutes is a sign that the Tornadoes have two solid netminders. "She's a solid goalie," Hayes said. "She doesn't make the spectacular saves, but she's very consistent in making the saves she should. She doesn't let in too many soft ones."

Anoka 's regular starter, Samantha Ubl, missed her second game after going to the hospital with a rash which is now under control. "Hopefully we'll get her back starting next week."

Looking ahead, Hayes said he expects the Tornadoes to be the sixth seed in the Section 5AA tournament.

Regardless of how far either team reaches into the post season, both are going to be conference and section contenders soon.

Jason Olson is at jason.olson@ecm-inc.com.