MINNEAPOLIS - This wasn't the way things were supposed to work out for the Bemidji High School girls hockey team.
The Lumberjacks went two and out at the Minnesota Class AA tournament, dropping a dramatic last-minute 3-2 decision to Rochester Mayo on Friday afternoon at Ridder Arena and leaving the rink with a bitter taste in their mouths.
"Every time you come here (to state) it's got to be special for that time," said Bemidji Coach Matt Menne. "We've got some unfinished business. It was outstanding to get here, but we've got work left on the table, so we should be hungry to get back."
It was the Lumberjacks' second trip to state, but the first since 2000. The team will lose four seniors from a 22-7-1 squad.
Mayo got up off the canvas after being dominated in the first period and scored the game-winning goal with only 18 seconds remaining. Catherine Psimos intercepted a pass near the blue line and lofted a shot that found its way through traffic and into the net over the right shoulder of Bemidji goaltender Savannah Osborn.
ADVERTISEMENT
The winning goal came while Bemidji was on its eighth power play of the game.
"It was a turnover, and their kid did exactly what you should do," Menne said. "Get the puck on net and you never know what might happen."
The victory sends Mayo into today's fifth-place game against Burnsville and ends a memorable season for Bemidji.
"It was a fairy tale win for them," said Menne. "They definitely got the lucky bounces, but that's the way it's been for us all season. It's ironic how I'm talking about not getting any bounces and here we are in the state tournament."
Bemidji dominated the first period, outshooting the Spartans 11-2, but had only a 1-0 lead to show for it. Jess Christofferson got Bemidji on the board in the last minute of the period when her wrist shot from the right circle found the net. It was her 20th goal of the season.
"This game should have been over early," Menne said. "We didn't put them away in the first period like we should have. We let them hang around too long, and they made us pay for it."
Mayo took a 2-1 lead with a pair of second-period goals. Those tallies came on the Spartans' third and fifth shots on goal of the game. Mary Grace Flesher got the first one on a backhander from close range that went over Osborn's shoulder. Stefanie Fiek broke the tie just seconds after the Lumberjacks skated off a 5-on-3 power play. Fiek's slapper from the left side beat Osborn high.
Junior Sarah Erickson, the Jacks' leading scorer, tied it midway through the third with a wrap-around goal right after a Mayo penalty expired. Linemates Courtney Josefson and Christofferson got the assists after crashing the net and getting the puck deep. It was Erickson's 35th goal of the season.
ADVERTISEMENT
After Bemidji killed a penalty, it went on the power play with 2:11 remaining but had trouble getting anything going. The Jacks finished 0 for 8 on the power play, and Mayo's shorthanded goal to win the game only added to the frustration.
"You have to play 51 minutes of good hockey when you get to the state tournament," Menne said. "We played a great third period in the first round and a great first period today, but it wasn't enough."
Still, with a 22-victory season and a Section 8AA championship behind them, the Lumberjacks will likely have fond memories of the 2006-07 season.
"I'm proud of the girls for a great season and their great effort," Menne said, "and the entire community of Bemidji is proud of them."
