Overtime win brings relief for New Richmond girls hockey team

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Alli Wielinski’s overtime goal gave the New Richmond girls hockey team a 3-2 win over Rochester Century on Saturday, capping a frenzied weekend for the Tigers at the annual Rochester (Minn.) holiday tournament.

The Tigers’ weekend included a four-goal lead evaporating, a heart-filled effort against Wisconsin’s top-ranked team and the overtime victory.

Saturday’s win ends a six-game losing streak for the Tigers, raising their season record to 3-7.

Senior Siera Myer scored her first goal of the season to give the Tigers the only goal of the first period on Saturday. Tiffany Olek scored in the second period, with Rochester Century also scoring once during the period. Rochester tied the game with a goal in the third period.

The Tigers went on the attack early in the overtime. The puck went to junior defenseman Meghan Wolner, who fired a shot from the point. The shot went directly to Wielinski, who stood her ground in front of the net. Wielinski buried her shot 1:15 into the overtime.

The win came a day after the Tigers put up an admirable fight against the state’s top-ranked team, Central Wisconsin Storm. The Tigers lost the game 6-0.

“The girls played a fabulous game,” said New Richmond coach Emily Dabrowski. “The score doesn’t show how well they played.”

The one drawback for the Tigers in Friday’s game was penalties. The Tigers gave up just one even-strength goal to the Storm. The other five goals all came when the Tigers were short-handed.

Tiger goalie Baily Lund bounced back from a rocky opening game in the tournament to put together strong efforts in the final two games. Against the Storm, she stopped 34 shots.

The opening game of the tournament against Winona (Minn.) produced a downright puzzling performance from the Tigers. The Tigers put together an excellent start to the game, building a 4-0 lead in the first period. Every shot the Tigers put on goal in the first period made its way into the net.

From there it was all downhill for the Tigers. Winona scored 10 unanswered goals to topple the Tigers 10-4.

Olek, who has given the Tigers an offensive threat from the defenseman position, scored the first goal 3:32 into the game. Alice Gramenz followed with her first two goals of the season to raise the lead to 3-0.

Senior Shelby Rolland scored with 13 seconds left in the period. Winona put the brakes on the Tigers’ momentum by scoring with six seconds left in the period.

Tags: sports, tigers, hockey, prep