CROOKSTON SENIORS COMBINE FOR OT WINNER OVER FERGUS FALLS ON SENIOR NIGHT

How does that saying go? It’s a script that even Hollywood couldn’t come up with!! On Senior Night, all three of the Crookston Pirate seniors combined on the winning goal 12 seconds into overtime to give the Pirates a 2-1 win over visiting Fergus Falls at the Crookston Sports Center.
“I told them two things,” Crookston head coach Tim Moe said before the overtime. “To go out there and score quickly because, with all the festivities, your parents have goodies after the game. Second, you seniors, this is your time, your moment, and one you’ll never forget.” Nora Peterson, a senior captain from Mayville, N.D., took a pass from behind the net from senior captain Catherine Tiedmann, who received a pass from the senior captain, Mckenzie Epema, for the game-winner!!

First Period
After a disappointing loss on Tuesday night in Thief River Falls, the Pirates came out flying to set the pace of the game matched by Fergus Falls throughout the period. “That is something we’ve talked about we’ve wanted to do,” said Moe, “we want to put pressure on our opponent in the offensive zone, which is the best place to play any defense, force the play and create opportunities. Both teams had opportunities, maybe close to getting chances, but maybe not on net, and both goalies were equal with six saves apiece. That was until 14:27 into the period when the Pirates got a Grade A scoring chance, set up by Aleah Bienek getting the puck to Reese Swanson to the left of the Otters goal, finding Addie Fee in front for a quick one-timer to beat the Fergus Falls goalie to give Crookston the lead at 1-0. “Nice pass from Reese from the corner in front to Addie and a nice quick shot,” said Moe. “It was a beautiful goal, and it’s what we are trying our kids to do more off as far as passing the puck and getting their goalie to move a bit because that creates holes, and that’s exactly what happened.” Crookston would go into the first period with the 1-0 lead. “It was a good locker room and actually a good locker room the whole night,” said Moe. “Not only the players playing a lot but Coral Brekken, a freshman, was a cheerleader in the locker room. She was getting the kids going. I was proud of Coral and all our kids for taking ownership of the team and their responsibilities and roles. We did remind the girls of a couple of things, being on the right side, like if they have control of the puck, we want to be between our check and the net or the defensive side. You’re playing well, winning races to the puck and keep it going.”

Second Period
Crookston would have a couple of power plays in the period that was sandwiched around the only goal of the period as Rylynn Krein, a freshman for Fergus Falls, would score her first varsity goal tipping a shot from the point that changed directions and got past Pirate goalie Kailee Magsam. “Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the other team,” said Moe, “they had a nice low shot from the point, and the girl, which I believe was her first goal as an Otter got her stick on it, and it was nicely executed on their part.”
The goal came at the 9:50 mark of the period, which meant there was 7:10 to go in the period. At that point, the Pirates had one shot on goal in the period and ended up with 10, but before and after their two power plays were unable to up their woeful percentage with the man advantage. “You’re never sure how your team will respond, and momentum might shift a little bit,” said Moe, “for us to withstand that and fight back the way they did.” Magsam did have five saves in the period, and the goaltenders best friend (the pipes) had two saves as well to keep it 1-1 after two periods. “Kailee played well,” said Moe, “made some beautiful saves. Whenever we got out of position, Kailee stood tall, and I’m proud of the way she played.”

Third Period
Crookston came into the game concerned about the leading scorer for Fergus Falls, Maddie Cutler, and leading goal scorer, Piper Andrews, and had to cognizant of when and where they were on the ice, and that continued in the third period. “That was the game plan coming in.,” said Moe. “We told them the two numbers, and whenever they had the puck, we had to take their hands however we can do it, and I thought we did a great job at that. On the bench, too, every time those two were on the ice, assistant Stacy Olson was reminding everybody to take their hands and a great job by the coaching staff and kids.” There was no scoring in the period but not from a lack of trying by both teams, as they peppered 17 shots on goal between the two, nine for Crookston.

Overtime
Coach Moe’s two-minute pep talk before overtime. “You couldn’t draw a more memorable experience for you seniors, and you’re going to put the final chapter on this. Let’s do it early so we can go up and celebrate in the corner there with all the balloons and pictures and treats the parents put together.” It took 12 seconds, and the Pirates leading scorer, Nora Peterson describes her game-winner, “Right off the face-off, Kenzie Epema got it, skated it deep just like she practices, got it to Kat (Tiedemann) in the corner, and she tipped it out in front, and I tapped it in.”
Three years of playing hockey with Crookston in a coop with Mayville-Portland and Hatton, N.D., the Mayville product has been driving one way about 50 minutes to practice and/or games at least four times a week. Does a game like this make it all worth it? “Absolutely,” said Peterson. “It’s been a great experience with some great hockey moments, and this game shows what this team can do. This is the best game we’ve played this season, and I’m glad that we could come up with the goal and win.”

Crookston is now 7-8-1 on the year and travels up to Roseau to play the Rams Friday night and finishes off the regular season with a Section 8A game at Detroit Lakes on Monday. “We will play a tough Roseau team tomorrow, but that’s the kind of team we want to play right now, a team that has lost three times to Warroad because if we ever get to play Warroad again, we’ll need to play a team of near Warroad’s caliber and that is Roseau,” said Moe.
Fergus Falls drops to 8-6-1 and falls to 4-1 against Section 8A teams, beating Detroit Lakes twice, East Grand Forks 5-2, and Thief River Falls 5-1. The Otters will be at Moorhead on Saturday for their next game.