Eau Claire downs Chi-Hi/McDonell girls' hockey in marathon playoff game Box Score Feb. 25, 2009 It was only fitting that Chi-Hi/McDonell’s rematch with Eau Claire in girls’ hockey Tuesday went to overtime.
The two teams skated to a 4-4 tie earlier in the season. That game ended after one overtime.
In the sectional semifinal at Chippewa Area Ice Arena, the two teams skated into three overtimes and it was the Stars who advanced with a 2-1 victory against the Cardinals.
Eau Claire charged hard toward Chi-Hi/McDonell’s net and goalie Kiara McChesney stopped the initial rush and shot by the Stars’ Emily Lester.
But the puck still trickled by McChesney, crossed the line and ended the Cardinals’ season.
“It’s something where unfortunately they did get the bounces. They made a play,” Cardinals coach Andrew Skelton said.
The Cardinals had a plethora of chances as they peppered Eau Claire goalie Kersten Greene with 46 shots in the game, including blistering the first overtime with 10 shots.
“We got a lot of quality chances. Their goalie played well and their defense played the rebounds. We couldn’t get the bounces,” Skelton said.
The Stars broke a scoreless tie in the second period when Erin Stenseth scored on a penalty shot at the 10:47 mark. It was a call that Skelton didn’t agree with.
“It’s a play where it’s a judgment call by the ref. Their girl was believed to have an open breakaway and our girl tripped her. You don’t see (the penalty shot) very often. Unfortunately, it had to be called.
“I think it was a iffy call at best. That’s the way it goes.”
The Cardinals responded less than four minutes later on the power play. Mikayla Hogan scored with assists to Megan White and Allie Tanzer to square the game at one goal apiece.
“We didn’t get rattled after the penalty shot. We played hard,” Skelton said.
With the loss, Chi-Hi/McDonell will not go to the state tournament for the third season in a row — also the program’s third season. But the graduating players, Hogan, White, McChesney, Alissa Anderson and Katie Hakes left a big mark on the program.
“We were in the locker room and we talked about the five seniors,” Skelton said. “It was a pretty difficult situation. I told them they should be proud. They pretty much got this program up and running.”
The Stars advanced to the sectional final Friday against the Central Wisconsin Storm. The game is being played at 7 p.m. in Schofield.
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