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WORTHINGTON -- The Worthington Trojans girls hockey team attempted only one shot in the overtime period Tuesday night against Mankato West.
And it was a doozy.
Megan Dykstra, a senior forward, collected a pass from teammate Lauren Nelson and embarked on a long skate toward the West goal, covering more than half the length of the ice. She outskated a defender to a clearing and reached her destination just a few short feet in front of the net. Then she shot. And the puck went in, giving WHS a 3-2 OT victory over the Scarlets in the Trojans’ first game of the regular season in Worthington.
Only 2:25 had elapsed in the 8-minute overtime period.
Dykstra’s plan was perfect.
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“I closed my eyes as it went in. And then I opened my eyes and it was in,” she said later.
“I had a good pass from Lauren, and then I knew I had to skate real fast to get past that (Mankato West) player. Then I got past her and I felt I couldn’t stick-handle. And then I just shot, and it went in,” she explained.
She had to think about getting her stick in position to shoot.
“My stick was real far in front of me. And somehow I made the shot,” Dykstra said.
It was a great way to begin the season for Worthington. Senior goalkeeper Lillyana Newman made 39 saves Tuesday night, including several difficult ones. Mankato West scored both of its goals on power plays, but the Trojans got two from Riley Nickel and finally the game-winner.
“That’s all that matters. One shot,” said WHS head coach Chad Nickel. “She definitely made that one count. She dug down and kept pushing it, and she made a good quality shot.”
After a scoreless first period, Worthington scored first with 12:30 remaining in the second period as Nickel, a senior forward, let go of a shot attempt only a few yards in front of the blue line near the boards. It nestled into the lower left side of the net.
It appeared as if Mankato West goalie Alyna Smith’s vision might have been partially obscured by a teammate that was hovering just a foot or two in front of her. Regardless, the Trojans led 1-0.
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West scored with 4:16 remaining in the second on a power play goal by Hope Rademaker.
Then with 8:46 to play in the third period the Scarlets took a 2-1 lead on another power play goal. With a 3-on-5 advantage, West’s Maree Zimmerman got the goal in the midst of a scrum in front of the Trojans’ net.
Finally, with just 4:21 remaining in the game, Nickel exhibited some deft skating with the puck, outracing the defense to a clear shot that she finished into the upper left portion of the net. The puck struck the pole and went right in.
Mankato West out-shot Worthington 38-22 through three periods. But like Coach Nickel said, it only takes one. And one, in overtime, was enough for the Trojans.
The coach praised all his players for the exciting win, and he also made sure to credit Newman.
“I will definitely say she was on fire tonight. She was phenomenal. She was focused. There were some quality shots that she stopped.”
Mankato West 0 1 1 0 -- 2
Worthington 0 1 1 1 -- 3
