WILLMAR — Kate Stephens turned in a Herculean effort in the net for the No. 4 Northern Lakes Lightning who just missed upsetting the top-seeded Willmar Cardinals in a 5-4 double-overtime loss in the Section 6-1A semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Stephens stopped 59 shots as the Cards outshot the Lightning 64-20, including 15-5 in the overtimes.
Tanna Christensen punched in the game-winner 23 seconds into the second OT.
Alyssa Koslowski netted a first-period, power-play goal for Northern Lakes which trailed 2-1 at the break.
The Lightning went up 4-2 with three unanswered goals in the second, two by Caitlyn Gutzman and one by Riley Fogarty.
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Willmar topped the Lightning 7-3 Nov. 12 and 7-3 Jan. 7. Northern Lakes finishes 12-15.
Willmar 2 0 2 0 1 -- 5
Northern Lakes 1 3 0 0 0 -- 4
First period: W-Bailey Olson (Mya Monson) 4:45; W-Monson (Olson) 8:46; NL-Alyssa Koslowski (Caitlyn Gutzman, Rose Aldridge) ppg 11:09
Second period: NL-Gutzman (Koslowski, Savannah Abear) ppg 1:01; NL-Riley Fogarty (Koslowski) 8:51; NL-Gutzman (Megan Muller) 15:46
Third period: W-Nina Dawson ppg 5:45; W-Madison Garberding (Olson, Tanna Christensen) ppg 13:32
Overtime period 2: W-Christensen 0:32
Shots on goal: NL 20, W 64
Goalies: NL-Kate Stephens (59 saves); W-Bryton Carlson (16 saves)
Overall: NL finishes 12-15.
