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WORTHINGTON -- Ella Dockter scored her second goal of the game with 39.7 seconds remaining, and it lifted the Windom Area Eagles to a 3-2 victory over the Worthington Trojans girls hockey team Thursday night at the Worthington Ice Arena.
The sophomore defenseman put the puck in the lower left corner of the net to break a 2-2 deadlock and avoid overtime. She was right where she needed to be.
“I saw an open shot right up the slot,” Dockter said. “Two of my teammates were right up at the net, and I could tell they were ready. We just wanted it really bad.”
Dockter, too, was right up at the net, waiting.
“Most goalies struggle with that side,” the game-winning scorer continued. “Everyone was spread out, but they were all there at the net. There was just an open spot. Everybody was just a little bit right of the goalie. … It’s my normal spot to aim.”
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The goalie in question otherwise played an outstanding game. She was Worthington senior Lillyana Newman and she kept the Trojans competitive despite having to make 37 saves. Windom Area out-shot Worthington 40-8 in the Big South Conference contest.
“Their goalie, she was excellent,” Dockter said. “She was on point tonight. She got a lot of rebounds.”
Worthington head coach Chad Nickel was similarly impressed.
“She played a phenomenal game. She was dialed in just perfectly tonight,” he said.
The win pushed Windom Area to 3-2 on the young season while it dropped Worthington to 1-2.
The Eagles started fast, outshooting the Trojans 16-4 in the first period while scoring twice. Dockter scored the first goal at the 7:42 mark from about 20 feet in front of the net. Teammate Victoria Robillard scored almost exactly two minutes later, unassisted, to make it 2-0.
Worthington finally got on the scoreboard on a power play late in the second period. Addison Joens, a freshman forward, scored it up close with 1:25 remaining. Riley Nickel was credited with an assist.
Then with 15:46 showing on the third period clock, the suddenly resurgent Trojans tied the score at 2-2 as Marin Pederson scored unassisted. Her shot was only the seventh shot attempt for Worthington the game at that point, according to the official scorer.
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Dockter’s game-winning goal was assisted by Eagles Presley Dockter and Madelyn Schumacher.
Apart from Newman’s performance, Coach Nickel was generally unimpressed with his team’s effort.
“We finally showed up for the third period. We weren’t winning the races tonight. We had moments where we played well, but ….” he said, adding, “We gotta work harder. We gotta be more mentally prepared to win the races.”
Windom Area 2 0 1 -- 3
Worthington 0 1 1 -- 2
