Owatonna Rallies for Victory for Second Straight Game
The Owatonna High School girls hockey team has plenty of firepower returning from last season. The team showed its ability to rally from behind in back-to-back games this week to start the season 2-0. OHS beat East Ridge 2-1 Tuesday in the season opener. Thursday the Huskies opened the Big Nine season with a 5-2 come-from-behind victory over Mankato East at All Seasons Arena at MSU-Mankato.
Thursday the Cougars went up 2-0 early in the second period. It wasn't for a lack of scoring chances for the Huskies. Several times Cougar junior goalie Anna Rader made stellar saves including a point-blank stop of Huskiies junior Ezra Oien in the first period.
OHS finally broke through on sophomore Molly Achterkirch's chance in front of the net at 2:25 of the second period. Oien scored on a snipe at 11:28 to tie the game at 2-2. Sophomore Samantha Bogen gave OHS the lead two minutes later on a rebound goal, off a shot from Oien. Sarah Snitker got the first of her two assists as well.
The 3-2 OHS lead stayed pat until late in the third period. Junior CJ Frear-Boerner slapped home a deflected puck at 15:17 for a 4-2 lead and breathing room. Senior Gabi Lamont and Snitker assisted. Bogen added an empty net tally with a minute to go.
TUESDAY: Owatonna 2, East Ridge 1
In the season opener on Dudley Otto Rink at Four Seasons Centre, Owatonna scored a pair of third period goals 32 seconds apart to get the win. Mady Simon (from Izzy Radel) and Bogen (from Oien) provided the offensive spark.
Senior goalie Ava Wolfe earned the win in each outing. The Huskies are home against Rochester Century on Tuesday, November 23.
Oien opened the season with 103 career points. Senior Olivia Herzog has 98. Bogen has 51 with Achterkirch at 49 for career numbers entering the 2021-22 campaign.
DEFENDING BIG NINE CHAMPS GET BIG WIN
Northfield, last season's girls hockey Big Nine Conference champion, beat No. 11 rated Lakeville South Thursday 4-2.
OHS DIVER AT STATE
Owatonna freshman Mya Dutton finished 28th at the state diving meet at the University of Minnesota. The top 16 of the 32 entrants advance to Saturday's finals. OHS swimmer Logan Norrid competes in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke Friday. Hear interviews with the student-athletes here.