Warroad's lead was cut to one goal early in the third period of its Class 1A girls hockey state tournament semifinal Friday. But with the top line on the ice for the Warriors, more highlight-reel goals were bound to happen.
Victory over South St. Paul puts Warroad back in girls hockey final
The defending champion Warriors advanced to their fourth title game in six years.
By Heather Rule
February 25, 2023 at 2:47AM
Senior Kate Johnson provided them, two goals in the third period that eased the way in the Warriors' 4-1 victory over fourth seed South St. Paul in Xcel Energy Center.
A feed from linemate Rylee Bartz led to the first of those goals.
"I saw Rylee going to the net, and I cut in with her," said Johnson, who was reached by phone after no Warroad players attended the postgame news conference. "And she got a good pass to my backhand and then, just did a couple stickhandles and took it to my forehand, which I usually prefer to go to, and snuck it in."
The dynamic top line of Johnson (two goals, assist), Bartz (two assists) and Talya Hendrickson (goal, three assists) factored in all of Warroad's goals. Bartz has 106 points this season, with the other two closing in on 100-point seasons; Hendrickson has 99 points, Johnson 97.
"You get a little glimpse of what I get to watch every day," said Warroad coach David Marvin, referring to Johnson's first goal. "They're pretty elite players. That was nice, to take a little heat off there."
Lily Pachel scored for the Packers (22-6-1).
"I wanted to give us a chance to go beat Warroad," Pachel said.
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Heather Rule
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
