Sports
North Wright County Falls to Coon Rapids at State
The RiverHawks will play Friday at noon against Elk River/Zimmerman.
No one has been able to contain Rachael Bona all season. Unfortunately for the North Wright County girls hockey team, neither could the RiverHawks on Thursday.
The Coon Rapids senior forward scored four goals in the Class AA state quarterfinal at the Xcel Energy Center, bringing her season total to 57 in a 6-1 win over NWC in St. Paul.
The loss sends the RiverHawks to Friday’s consolation semifinal at the University of Minnesota’s Ridder Arena. They’ll face Elk River-Zimmerman at noon.
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For the RiverHawks, Thursday’s game was all about Bona’s play.
“She was very impressive,” NWC coach Tim Hanson said. “She had great hands, and you can tell why she is a Ms. Hockey candidate.”
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Bona notched both of the Cardinals’ first period goals, then found the net again midway through the second and once more on a third period power play.
The RiverHawks showed signs of a comeback in their first state tournament game midway through the second. Down 3-0, sophomore forward Rachel Heiber took a breakaway in on Coon Rapids goalie Crystal Amunrud and scored to cut the deficit.
“It was exciting, but after they started pulling ahead it was like we’ve got to get going here,” Heiber said. “One isn’t going to do it.”
NWC picked up momentum early in the first period after killing off a 5-on-3 penalty in a scoreless game. Hanson said the River Hawks played poised while on the penalty kill, but they were unable to turn that momentum into a lead on the scoreboard.
Instead, Bona took over, scoring the first of her four goals seven minutes later.
“It was like we weathered the storm,” Hanson said. “It did sting us, that’s for sure.”
GAME SUMMARYNorth Wright Co. 0 1 0 — 1
Coon Rapids 2 2 2 — 6
Scoring — First period: 12:39 CR Rachael Bona (Amy Schlagel, Dani Lobejko), 14:35 CR Bona (Brenna Paskey, Schlagel). Second period: 4:50 CR Lobejko (Schlagel, Addie Rust) PPG, 6:17 NRC Rachel Heiber (Dani Sibley, Maddi Sjelin), 7:55 CR Bona (Lobejko). Third period: 6:47 CR Michelle Harris (Rust, Chelsea Cyert), 10:16 CR Bona (Brenna Paskey, Rust). Shots on goal — NWC 17, CR 30. Power plays — NRC 0-4, CR 2-5. Saves — NRC Amanda Coep 24, Crystal Amunrud 16.
Up next:
The Riverhawks take on Elk River/Zimmerman at noon Friday, Feb. 25, at Ridder Arena on the University of Minnesota campus.
Address: 1815 4th St SE, Minneapolis
