Girls hockey: Cards win in overtime

Two minutes into the third period, junior Olivia Kopp hit a long shot, pushing the game to 3-2. Eighth grader Kaci Trosvig hit the net with eight minutes left, tying the game and sending the teams into overtime.

“Once they started scoring their goals we realized we needed to step it up,” Trosvig said. “We came into the third period and just did what we need to do.”

Four minutes into overtime, freshman Anna Doherty closed the game for the Cardinals with a quick pass from junior McKenna Ellingson.

This win marked the Cardinals sixth victory in a row for a 14-6 overall record.

“Teams want to take that from us so they’re going to push themselves harder,” eighth grade goaltender Hailee Bailey said. “They try their hardest to beat us because we’re one of those teams you want to beat.”

Bailey took the win between the pipes for the Cardinals. She’s been stepping up more for the Cardinals and adjusting to the varsity pace.

“It was scary at first,” Bailey said. “My first game I had so many nerves but now it’s just like every other game. I just go in there and do my best. Just the speed of the game is so much faster. It's so much more fun to play.”

Junior Alexis Heckert had the Cardinals’ first goal against the Royals in the second period.

“We’ve had some balanced scoring the last few games and that’s going to help us be more successful,” Head coach Molly Arola said. “But tonight the biggest star was Kristin Trosvig. It doesn’t matter whether she was on the scoring chart or not. She played with a lot of heart.”

The Cardinals started off slow against the Royals, Arola said.

“Hopefully we can come out with more energy right away,” Arola said about the final stretch of games before playoffs.

The Cardinals head to Detroit Lakes to face the Lakers (6-12) on Jan. 16 for a 7 p.m. game.