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Lynx nabs 4-3 OT win over Rock County

By Mike McKersie, Metro Lynx coach, 01/08/20, 8:45PM CST

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Mirwald gets game-winner in extra period

It was everything you would expect of between the rivals in the Badger Conference. It was a physical game with opportunities presenting themselves to both teams. It took 45 seconds longer than normal, but the Metro Lynx were able to grab a 4-3 OT win over Rock County.

The Lynx would come out and set play fast outshooting the Fury 13-5 in the first period. They scored on the power play as Hannah Kolpien fed Ally Jacobsen just inside the blue line. Ally would step in and snap off a wrist shot that would find it way past Fury goaltender Olivia Cronin high to the glove side.

The Lynx had another great opportunity when Sydney Raaths stepped off the wall and ripped a high shot hitting nothing but iron. The first period would end 1-0 in favor of the Lynx.

In the second, the Lynx again would outshoot the Fury 16-6. They pressured Cronin and had multiple rebound opportunities only to come up empty handed.

It would be the Fury that would strike next. On the power play, Alyssa Knauf would get a feed from Anika Einbeck and a take a shot through traffic that would find its way to the back of the net knotting the score at 1-1.

With 1:50 left in the period, the Fury would get another opportunity on a Lynx turnover. Alyssa Knauf would walk in all alone on McKersie faking left and going right but McKersie would stay with her and turn it aside with a pad save keeping the score at 1-1.

The third period would begin with the Lynx defense continuing to lead the Lynx in scoring. First it would be Grace Bonnell driving through the neutral zone and splitting the Fury defense. She would lift a shot into the upper netting for a 2-1 lead.

Next it would be Lauren Johnson on a coast to coast rush. She would pick up the puck in her defensive zone driving wide up the far side of the ice. She would get down to the Fury goal line and take a hard angle shot that would elude Cronin giving the Lynx a 3-1 advantage.

WiPH Game Summaries

The Lynx had an opportunity to widen the gap further when Rachel Mirwald sprung loose on a breakaway. She pulled the puck to the far side trying to lift it, but Cronin would deny her.

Then penalty trouble would hinder the Lynx. While on the power play, the Fury would place a player right in front screening McKersie. Einbeck would let loose a high shot making it 3-2 Lynx.

With about a minute left the Fury would pull their goalie and be rewarded. After a turnover along the wall in the Lynx zone, it would work its way back to Fury’s Samantha Wells who fired a low shot slipping under McKersie’s pad to tie the game with 42 seconds left.

In OT, the Lynx would strike quickly. On their first shift of overtime, Raaths and Mirwald would capitalize on a Fury turnover in the neutral zone. They would finish off a near perfect two on one. Raaths would get the puck in the neutral zone and drive down the wall. The Fury defender would pressure Raaths who would saucer a pass over to Mirwald who would go far side over the glove of Cronin to end the game.

Cronin would finish with 36 saves and McKersie with 23.