Owatonna girls hockey will get one more game on their home rink after upsetting Red Wing 4-3 in overtime Saturday in the Section 1A semifinals at Prairie Island Arena.

The third-seed Huskies never trailed against the five-time defending section champion Wingers. But Red Wing came back from a pair of two-goal deficits to force overtime. The Huskies ended the game at 1:42 of the extra session as Margo Achterkirch battled at the edge of the crease and knocked the puck over the Red Wing net minder. Jessica "Betty" VonRuden slipped her the puck from behind the net after Meghan Rethemeier fought in the right corner to maintain possession.

Owatonna started the game with a pair of first-period goals by VonRuden for a 2-0 intermission lead, including her 40th of the season. No. 9A Red Wing scored at 7:03 of the second period with future Golden Gopher Taylor Heise notching her 46th of the season. The Huskies answered back with a Rethemeier goal a little over a minute later. OHS led 3-1 after two periods.

Red Wing buried a chance in the opening minute of the third period and evened the game up on a power play goal at 5:01. It was the only goal the Huskies surrendered on a five-minute major penalty kill. Sophomore goalie Laura Ebeling made 24 saves in the third period, including several top-grade chances for high-scoring Red Wing. She ended the night with 41 saves and the Kottke Jeweler's diamond player of the game award.

Owatonna (19-8) will play Northfield (18-9) Thursday, February 11, in the Section 1A final at 7PM at the Four Season Centre in Owatonna and on Kat Kountry 105FM. Top seed Northfield overcame a first period 1-0 deficit to beat Austin 2-1 on Saturday. Owatonna beat Northfield 2-1 in December. It's the Huskies' first section finals appearance since 2006. Their last section title came in 2003.

In 1AA Dodge County shut out Farmington 3-0 to advance to the section finals for the third time in four years. Bella Wanger had two goals and an assist in Saturday's win at Kasson. The Wildcats lost to Lakeville North in the finals in 2013 and 2014. This year they will play Lakeville South in Owatonna on Thursday at 5PM. South beat North 7-3 in the other semifinal.

 

Owatonna
Roy Koenig, Townsquare Media
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