URGENT UPDATE: In a thrilling overtime showdown, the International Falls girls hockey team edged out Morris/Benson Area with a final score of 3-2 on Friday night. The decisive goal was netted by Kjersti Hansen just 6:52 into the overtime period, sealing a hard-fought victory for International Falls.
The action unfolded at the Morris rink, where International Falls initially struggled to maintain a lead. Goals from Elise Pavleck and Addison Brown bolstered their efforts, but Morris/Benson Area fought back with scores from Hadley Koehler and Elizebeth Day, pushing the game to overtime.
Despite being outshot 43 to 13, Ava Breuer, the Storm’s goalie, delivered an impressive performance, stopping 40 of 43 shots. This extraordinary effort kept Morris/Benson in contention until the very end.
The game began with no scoring in the first period, and the tension escalated in the second as Pavleck put International Falls on the board with an unassisted goal at 15:51. Morris/Benson quickly responded with Koehler’s goal at 16:37, tying the game.
In the third period, Morris/Benson took the lead with Day’s unassisted goal at 4:32, but Brown responded for International Falls with a goal at 10:56, setting the stage for the dramatic overtime.
“It was a nail-biter to the very end. The girls showed great resilience, and I’m proud of Kjersti for clinching the win,” said International Falls coach.
As the dust settles from this nail-biting contest, Morris/Benson Area will look to bounce back in their next game against Princeton/Big Lake/Becker, scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Lee Community Center in Morris.
This victory not only marks a significant achievement for International Falls but also highlights the competitive spirit of high school hockey. Fans are eager to see how the upcoming games will unfold as teams vie for supremacy.
Stay tuned for more updates on girls hockey developments and results as the season progresses.
