Lake Cowboy Keeps Pace with 5-2 Win Over Hepp's Salt

The Celly League returned to Braemar Arena Thursday night with an important matchup as each team was looking to stay near the top of the standings. With Pelicci's Ace Hardware sitting comfortably in first place with nine points, both Lake Cowboy and Hepp's Salt entered the night looking to keep pace. Each team began the evening with four points, making the rematch between the clubs one of the biggest games of the young season.

Lake Cowboy edged Hepp's Salt 2-1 in a four-round shootout on opening night, with Justina Valentini (Minnesota) scoring the lone shootout goal to secure the victory.

This time there would be no need for extra hockey. Lake Cowboy seized control midway through the opening half, exploding for three goals in just 2:43 to take command of the contest.

Ezra Oien (Vermont) opened the scoring by driving hard to the net and burying the rebound after a blast from Avery Hovland (Minnesota) for a 1-0 advantage.

Just 1:39 later, Tori Anderson (Minnesota State) slipped into the slot and hammered home a one-timer off a terrific feed from Alli Ryan (Assumption). Avalyn Mikkelson (Assumption) did the heavy lifting behind the goal line to create the scoring chance, extending the lead to 2-0.

Moments later, a turnover high in the neutral zone created a two-on-none break for Alexa Hanrahan (Minnesota) and Lauren O'Hara (Vermont). Hanrahan patiently slid the puck across, and O'Hara finished the play past goaltender Annika Lavender(St. Michaels) for a stunning 3-0 lead.

Hepp's Salt answered behind Sloane Hartmetz (Minnesota), who scored late in the first half before adding another early in the second to trim the deficit to 3-2. Hartmetz, who starred at Shattuck-St. Mary's before playing for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, will begin her collegiate career with the Golden Gophers this fall. Her older sister, Hadley Hartmetz, currently plays professionally in the PWHL with San Jose after spending last season with the Boston Fleet.

Any momentum Hepp's Salt had quickly disappeared.

Lake Cowboy put the game away with a pair of second-half goals from its Vermont connection. Josie Hemp (Vermont) restored the two-goal cushion on a setup from Hovland before Lauren O'Hara (Vermont) scored her second of the night off assists from Hemp and Mikkelson, sealing the 5-2 victory.

Lake Cowboy finished with a commanding 42-21 advantage in shots, while goaltender Layla Hemp (Minnesota) turned aside 19 shots to earn the win.

With the victory, Lake Cowboy improves to 2-1-0 and remains within striking distance of first-place Pelicci's Ace Hardware, while Hepp's Salt falls to 1-2-0 despite Hartmetz's two-goal performance.