Minnetonka girls still No. 1 in hockey
Through the first eight games of 2012-13, the Minnetonka High girls hockey team has an 8-0-0 record.
Minnetonka forward Laura Bowman skates behind the net in search of a scoring opportunity. The Skipper girls are 8-0-0 and ranked first in the state in Class AA. (File Photo Courtesy of Brian Nelson – Contributing Photographer)
But even the best teams struggle against hot goalies sometimes.
That was the case Dec. 13 when the Skippers risked their unbeaten mark in a non-conference game against the Andover Huskies.
Andover goalie Maddie Rooney stopped 45 of 47 Minnetonka shots. The Skippers last goal was fired into an open net in the final minute.
In describing Rooney’s effort, Minnetonka head coach Eric Johnson said, “She was on fire. If she could see it, she could stop it. We tried to screen in front of the net and get her off of her angles.”
The Skippers’ offensive strategy produced limited success.
Minnetonka senior Amy Petersen scored in the first period with an assist from senior Laura Bowman. At 14:39 of the third period, Bowman scored on a pass from junior defenseman Sydney Baldwin.
Andover closed the margin to 2-1 on a power-play goal by Abbie Turpin at 15:12.
Senior Diana Draayer of Minnetonka found a path to the empty net at 16:34 after Rooney had skated to the bench. Draayer’s goal was unassisted.
Senior Sydney Rossman was the Skippers’ winning goaltender with 16 saves.
Minnetonka had an easier time Dec. 15 during a 5-2 victory over Buffalo.
The game was deadlocked 2-2 at the second intermission, and then the Skippers scored three goals in the third period.
Bowman scored the first two Skipper goals before Sidney Morin scored a pure hat trick in the third period to salt it away.
Petersen’s playmaking skills were outstanding as she had four assists.
Winning goalie Hannah Ehresmann made 15 saves for the Skippers.
