Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op advances with OT win

Of late, the Northland Pines girls’ hockey co-op has had a knack for winning overtime games. They came up clutch once again with a playoff win in extra time on Thursday.

The fifth-seeded co-op defeated fourth-seeded Wisconsin Valley Union 3-2 in overtime in a regional final game at Ice Hawks Arena in Stevens Point.

Lilly Beitler scored a power play goal to send the co-op to the sectional semifinals. Lakeland’s Taylor Heleniak had the game-winning assist 5:39 into the overtime period.

“It was so exciting to be knowing that it could have been our last game of the season and it not being,” coach Andrea Harman said. “I don’t know that we should have gone to overtime, but it’s very exciting that we did go to overtime, and we ended up winning. And one of our freshman that has been working very, very hard this year got the game-winning goal.”

Two goals by Wisconsin Valley Union in the third period erased a 2-0 Eagle lead and forced bonus hockey.

A penalty by Wisconsin Valley Union’s Jai Dee Menge for interference put her in the box for two minutes. It ended up costing them as the Eagles scored their third straight overtime win. 

“My heart hurts … after three overtimes in a row,” Harman said. “Very exciting but very nerve-wracking and stressful. I hope we’re done with overtimes. I hope we win in regulation.”

Northland Pines’ last three-game win streak came Feb. 5-17, 2022.

There was also some poetic justice for the members of the Rhinelander/Antigo/Lakeland Northern Edge co-op that dissolved into the Pines co-op this season. The Edge’s final game was a double-overtime defeat to Wisconsin Valley Union in last year’s WIAA tournament.

One of the keys for the Northland Pines co-op was to get off to a faster start. They got a goal mid-way through the first period by Mallory Schmidt on a power play chance, assisted by Heleniak. 

The second period saw the co-op with a 9-3 shot advantage. That included their second goal courtesy of Rhinelander skater Emalee Detienne, unassisted. The goal came bar-down, a goal of Detienne’s this season.

“That one was beautiful,” Harman said. “Emalee walked down, took a beautiful shot and it was bar down. She finally did it. She hit her goal, it was the second goal, it was beautiful, it was bar-down. Everyone on the bench, in the stands went wild. It was amazing.”

Wisconsin Valley Union put the pressure on the Northland Pines co-op with a game-high 14 shots in the third period. That resulted in two goals — one by Madelynn Bradley and another by Jenna Jones, assisted by Greta Olson. 

The Eagles totaled just three shots in the third period. It would come down to overtime, a familiar place for the co-op.

Northland Pines co-op outshot Wisconsin Valley Union 6-0 in overtime. It was Northland Pines’ first playoff win as a co-op. The last time that Northland Pines won a playoff game came two years ago when they also beat Wisconsin Valley Union 4-0.

The win sets up the Northland Pines co-op (6-12) to play top-seeded Superior (20-3-1) in a sectional semifinal game. The co-op will be tested against one of the best teams in the state.

“I think it’s going to be a good game. We have not played them yet this year,” Harman said. “I think it’s going to be a good matchup. I think it’s a very mental game. I think if we come prepared and ready to play and play like we have these last three games … we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

The sectional semifinal game takes place tonight in Superior at 7 p.m.

Brett LaBore may be reached at [email protected] or [email protected].