Willmar revived after a slow begin yet two Alexandria goals in a 51-second range of the second period proved the back-breaker as second-seeded Alex vanquished the third-seeded Cardinals 6-4 of every a Section 6A semifinals game on Tuesday at the Runestone Community Center.
Willmar wrapped up its season 13-12. Alexandria (15-12) plays No. 1 Fergus Falls for the 6A championship at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Willmar Civic Center. The Otters vanquished River Lakes 5-1 in the other 6A semifinal.
Alexandria’s McKenna Ellingson scored twice and Hanley Block likewise scored to stake Alex to a 3-0 lead in the initial 14 minutes of the first period.
Willmar’s Bailey Olson kick-began a Cardinal rally with an unassisted goal with only 10 seconds left in the first.
“They got their belief back that they could play with them (after Bailey’s goal),” said Cardinals head coach Eric Setrum. “They battled hard, got good shots on net. When you do that, good things will happen.”
Madison Garberding scored two power-play goals 55 seconds separated halfway during that time period to tie the game 3-3.
However, Ellingson completed her cap trap with an goal and 12:46 of the second, and Mayson Toft scored unassisted at 13:37 to put Alexandria up by two.
Willmar’s Ashley Larson scored at 14:49 of the second, however the Cardinals couldn’t locate the net in the third, and Block scored her second goal of the game into a vacant net with seven seconds to play.
Willmar goalie Savana Knutson stopped 28 of 33 shots.
Section 6A
Semifinals
Alexandria 6,
Willmar 4
Willmar 1 3 0 — 4
Alexandria 3 2 1 — 6
FIRST PERIOD — A: Hanley Block (Mayson Toft) 2:34 … A: McKenna Ellingson (Alexis Heckert) 4:52 pp … A: Ellingson (Makenna Aure) 13:18 … W: Bailey Olson 16:50
SECOND PERIOD — W: Madison Garberding (Sydney Olson, Serena Monson) 7:12 pp … W: Garberding (Kessa Mara) 8:07 pp … A: Ellingson (Block) 12:46 … A: Toft 13:37 … W: Ashley Larson (B Olson) 14:49
THIRD PERIOD — A: Block (Ellingson) 16:53 en
GOALIE SAVES/SHOTS — Willmar: Savana Knutson 28/33 … Alexandria: Hailee Bailey 22/26
Fergus Falls 5,
Waterway Lakes 1
With two-goal nights from Ellie Andersen and Sophie Rausch, top-seeded and eleventh positioned Fergus Falls progressed to the Section 6A championship game after knocking off fourth-seeded River Lakes on Tuesday, 5-1.
After Jade Zierden got the main first-period goal, the Otters went up 2-0 after Andersen counted her first goal at the 6-minute, 1-second sign of the second. While on the power play, the Stars cut the deficit to 2-1 when Tyra Johnson, off assists from McKenzie Cremers and Aubrey Griffin), scored at 8:26. Be that as it may, later in the period, Rausch snatched the momentum back for Fergus Falls with a goal at 12:51.
From that point, Andersen and Rausch attached a pair of power-play goals in the third to cement the section victory.
In net, River Lakes goaltender Nicole Wander ceased 30 of 35 shots while the Otters’ Jadyn McKeever had 23 spares in 24 endeavors.
River Lakes ends the 2018-19 season with an 11-15-1 record.
River Lakes 0 1 0 — 1
Fergus Falls 1 2 2 — 5
FIRST PERIOD — FF: Jade Zierden (Sophie Rausch, Ellie Andersen) 15:38
SECOND PERIOD — FF: Andersen (Rausch, Gabby Brimhall) 6:01 … RL: Tyra Johnson (McKenzie Cremers, Aubrey Griffin) 8:26 pp … FF: Rausch (Zierden, Chloe Nelson) 12:51
THIRD PERIOD — FF: Andersen (Hallie Sheridan) 2:19 pp … FF: Rausch (Sheridan) 13:47 pp
GOALIE SAVES/SHOTS — River Lakes: Nicole Wander 30/35 … Fergus Falls: Jadyn McKeever 23/24
