Clinging to a 2-1 lead, St. Croix Valley Fusion Sophomore Jane Volgren hit the empty net with fifty-five seconds remaining to complete her hat trick and seal a 3-1 victory over Hayward Friday night. It was the second victory over a top six team in eight days for the Fusion who defeated the Storm in overtime at the Culver’s Cup.

The game held at the United Civic Center in Baldwin was a Sophie’s Squad Game to raise awareness and education about mental health for athletes. The Fusion began hosting this event in 2023 due to the efforts of Fusion junior Sophia DeLong who discovered the cause at a summer tournament. The game has taken an even deeper meaning to the Fusion after the loss of former teammate Jasmine Peterson, who took her own life, just weeks prior to the first Sophie’s Squad game last December.

The nice crowd that turned out in the cold weather was treated to a high-paced entertaining game. Fusion goalie, sophomore Katelyn Gustafson was tested early and often as the Hurricanes used their speed and quickness to generate scoring chances. Olivia Webster had a pair of chances, one on a deflection and the second one stopped with a smooth pad save by Gustafson. Midway through the period, on a Hurricane powerplay, Gustafson made a glove save on leading scorer Reese Sheehan’s shot from the high slot.

Junior captain Oaklie Holldorf set up Volgren’s first goal with a long indirect pass that sprung the Fusion’s leading scorer on a breakaway. Volgren beat Hayward goaltender Greta Woelber for a 1-0 lead. At 5:00 the Fusion went on a powerplay, but were only able to generate some shots from the perimeter. The Fusion took a 1-0 lead to the lockeroom along with a 11-10 shots margin.

Fusion Head Coach Matt Cranston said “We made a couple of adjustments to account for their speed that seem to be effective. They have a ton of skill.” St. Croix is adjusting to the loss of senior defenseman Sophia Munson who broke her clavicle in the Storm game at the Culver’s cup. Munson is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Period two started much like the first with the Hurricanes putting pressure on and generating several more good scoring opportunities. St. Croix’s first shot of the period would come from Volgren at 13:53. Channeling her inner Kendal Sundby, Volgren took a pass from Morgan Kivel in the neutral zone, then split the Hurricane defense going to her forehand and slipping the puck past Woelber to put the Fusion up 2-0. Volgren, who scored 28 goals as a freshman, sees the ice very well and like Sundby picks her spots to impact the game.

The Hurricanes pressure paid off at 11:00 when senior captain, Reese Sheehan came off the bench and skated right into a loose puck between the dots hammering it past Gustafson to get Hayward on the board. You won’t find another player in the state that brings the effort of Sheehan for the full fifty-one minutes. Trailing 2-1, Woelber denied Volgren with four minutes left in the period with a solid glove save. Sydney Kivel was called for cross-checking with six seconds left in the period, setting up a Hayward powerplay to start the final period.

Sheehan ripped a shot wide from between the dots to open the third period. Later, Gustafson stoned Colby Sprenger on a backdoor rebound. Whenever the Hurricanes came calling, Gustafson had an answer.

"It was definitely a game where we had scoring chances but couldn’t find the back of the net,” Hurricanes Head Coach Emily Stark explained. “That’s something that we’ve struggled with all year. We need to find more grit and determination and goals will start flowing.”

A scary moment occurred with just over two minutes remaining when Sheehan was taken to the boards in the neutral zone and driven into the penalty box post near the players benches. Sheehan went down hard, but left the ice under her own power and returned later.

Volgren’s empty netter at 0:55 completed the scoring. Shots were 25-24 in favor of the Fusion. It was a bend but don’t break win for the Fusion who kept the Hurricanes contained in crafting the win. “I thought our girls played a disciplined defensive game,” said Cranston.

Three Stars of the game:

1-SCV-Volgren, 2-SCV-Gustafson, 3-SCV-Holldorf

Blue Collar-HAY-R.Sheehan

Photo Credits: Sonja Adams