Proctor/Hermantown players swarmed senior forward Alyssa Watkins after she scored the game winning goal in double overtime. Photo: ALEX KORMANN • alex.kormann@startribune.com
A comeback overtime upset was the recipe for Proctor/Hermantown’s first girls’ hockey state championship and a 21-0 season.
Senior Alyssa Watkins scored a power-play goal at 6:57 of the second overtime period for a 3-2 victory over top-seed Gentry Academy in the Class 1A final Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.
The Mirage only had two chances on the power play in the game, scoring both times.
With 11:06 left in the second overtime, second-year Proctor/Hermantown coach Emma Stauber took a timeout to discuss the team’s second power play. They focused on quick puck movement, getting the opposition out of position and putting the puck on net.
“That’s exactly what we did,” Stauber said.
About a minute later, the Mirage celebration was on.
Freshman Izy Fairchild fed the puck to sophomore Ava Anick at the point. She passed it to Watkins in the left circle. Watkins fired a shot into the top half of the net, giving her seven goals for the tournament and 24 for the season.
The Mirage erased a pair of one-goal deficits in the game, tying it with about 9 minutes left in regulation on the first power-play goal off Fairchild’s stick.
Photo gallery: Class 1A championship
“Even when it felt like Gentry had the momentum in the game, they got that from the first one, we were able to find a way to tie it again,” Stauber said. “The momentum started to shift our way. We were able to find one in overtime.”
Proctor/Hermantown goaltender Abby Pajari made a season-high 32 saves. The Mirage outscored opponents 151-17 this season and never allowed more than 2 goals in a game.
Gentry Academy (19-3-0) took 1-0 and 2-1 leads on goals from sophomore Cara Sajevic, bringing her tournament total to six. The Stars finish as the 1A runner-up in their first varsity season. All three Stars’ losses this season came in overtime.
“Our kids gave everything that they had today,” Stars co-coach Paige Jahnke said.
The debut tournament raised Gentry Academy’s profile in girls’ hockey, co-coach Emily Erickson said.
“I think there was a lot of people maybe around the state that weren’t familiar about what Gentry Academy was and what we’re about here,” Erickson said.
It was the second 1A girls’ title game decided in overtime in the past four tournaments. Breck defeated Warroad 3-2 with a goal eight seconds into overtime in 2018. The last double-overtime 1A girls’ championship game was a 3-2 Breck victory over South St. Paul 2012.
Three stars
1. Alyssa Watkins, Proctor/Hermantown, senior forward. Her shot beat the Gentry Academy goaltender top-shelf to finish off a pretty passing play on a Mirage power play in overtime for the championship winner.
2. Abby Pajari, Proctor/Hermantown junior goaltender. Made a season-high 32 saves and weathered pressure throughout the game from Gentry Academy’s skilled offense.
3. Cara Sajevic, Gentry Academy, sophomore forward. Finished a stellar debut tournament with two goals, capitalizing when the Mirage got caught in a line change and then on a power-play goal.
HEATHER RULE
First report
Proctor/Hermantown pulled off a comeback, overtime, upset victory to win its first girls’ hockey state championship.
Alyssa Watkins scored a power-play goal at 6:57 of double overtime for a 3-2 victory over top-seed Gentry Academy in the Class 1A final Saturday at Xcel Energy Center. Proctor/Hermantown finished its season undefeated at 21-0-0.
The Mirage erased a pair of one-goal deficits in the game, tying it with about 9 minutes to play in regulation with a power-play goal from freshman Izy Fairchild, her 18th goal of the season.
Gentry Academy (19-3-0) took 1-0 and 2-1 leads on goals from sophomore Cara Sajevic, who had six goals in three state tournament games. The Stars finish as the 1A runner-up in their first varsity season. All three Stars’ losses this season came in overtime.
This marked the second 1A girls’ title game to get decided in overtime in the past four tournaments. Breck defeated Warroad 3-2 with a goal eight seconds into overtime in 2018.
Check back later for more on the game.
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