Red Wing's Nicole Schammel is a sophomore with a senior's confidence.
Full day ends with an OT thriller Schammel's fourth goal of night comes in overtime to cap Red Wing's comeback
February 23, 2012 at 10:02PM
She was unfazed when Hutchinson took a two-goal lead in the third period. And when the opportunity came in overtime to win the game, she did not flinch.
Schammel's fourth goal decided a back-and-forth game won 6-5 by the Wingers at 3:53 of the eight-minute extra session. No. 4 seed Red Wing outlasted Hutchinson in Wednesday's final Class 1A state girls' hockey tournament quarterfinal at the Xcel Energy Center.
When the puck came out in the slot, past players from each team who jostled for position, Schammel said she "just knew I was going to score and we were going to be done."
The Wingers looked nearly finished as the Tigers' Claire Cripps scored her second goal of the game on a bomb of a shot that required video review. The goal, and Hutchinson's 5-3 lead, stood.
"We felt we had a handle on things at that point," Tigers coach Mitch Fabel said. "But Red Wing brought great energy after that and we had some defensive breakdowns."
Schammel knew she had to take advantage.
"I always knew we were going to come back if we capitalized on our chances," she said.
She backed it up with a pair of third-period goals to force overtime. Wednesday's four goals give her 50 this season.
"Nicole has been terrific for us all year," Wingers coach Scott Haley said. "I wasn't as confident as she was."
Schammel's performance was owed in large part to Reagan Haley's five assists. Paige Haley and Emily Stegora added goals for Red Wing. Hutchinson's Sara Carlson scored twice and added two assists.
Red Wing outshot Hutchinson 42-26.
DAVID LA VAQUE
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Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
