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Sports

Eagan Girls Hockey Wins First Game Of Season

Wildcats down Henry Sibley, 4-3, in overtime on Wolfe's game-winner.

From the cheers emanating from the visitors locker room, one thing was clear — the streak had come to an end.

The Eagan girls hockey team, snakebit in its first three contests of the season, finally claimed its first victory of the year as forward Megan Wolfe's overtime goal sent the Wildcats to a 4-3 victory over Henry Sibley at the West St. Paul Ice Arena on Saturday night.

"We needed that one," Eagan co-head coach Scott Darwitz said.

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After losses to Shakopee, Park of Cottage Grove and Eastview, the time had come at last for the Wildcats — although the win didn't come easy.

"We still have a lot of work to do," Darwitz said. "We're still struggling with staying on a team after we score a goal."

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Yet, it was Sibley that recorded the first score of the evening on the very first shot of the night as Warriors forward Dani Gish beat Eagan goaltender Emily Oltrogge with a strike from the blue line at 2:43 of the first period.

The goal would hold-up through the remainder of the opening frame and into the second period until Wolfe brought her side even at 1-1 with a goal at 4:54.

Not to be outdone, Henry Sibley struck back just over a minute later at 5:56 as forward Rachel Friberg put the Warriors back on top at 2-1.

"That's been happening to us all year," Darwitz said. "We get a goal, then we give one right back."

However, Eagan returned the favor yet again as forward Katie Willems scored at 10:08 to send the game into the third period tied at 2-2.

The Wildcats made quick work of their third goal as forward Bre Steele sent a wrister past Warriors netminder Shannon Cunningham to put Eagan on top 3-2, but once again, Henry Sibley was able to counter just 33 seconds later with center Jessica Goldberg jamming the puck home to again level the count at 3-3.

And that's how it stayed despite several golden opportunities for Eagan that were turned away by Cunningham in the final minutes as the game pushed into overtime.

"Our goalie played well," Warriors head coach Mike Haedrich said.

Eagan's 45th shot of the night turned out to be the game-winner, however, as Wolfe's improbable attempt at 1:56 of the extra interval ended both the game and the Wildcats' skid.

"We know how to score goals," Darwitz said. "We just have to keep getting that puck on the net."

With its first victory now in hand, Eagan will look to create a winning streak as the Wildcats travel to the Bloomington Ice Gardens to take on Bloomington Kennedy on Tuesday night at 7:15 p.m.

"We're getting better," Darwitz said. "There's a lot of work left to do, but we are getting better."



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