WINONA – In a see-saw shootout, the Owatonna girls hockey team opened the season on top.
Led by a hat-trick and then some from Payton Noble, the Huskies outlasted Winona 6-5 Thursday at Bud King Arena.
Noble erupted for four goals and Katie Johnson and Betty VonRuden each scored their first-career goals to round out the Huskies’ scoring. Paige Radue handed out a team-best three assists.
“We were controlling play and we were making a lot of good passes,” OHS coach Tim Hunst said. “It’s the first game, so we made some mistakes. We shot a lot of pucks into shin pads. (Winona) had a lot of blocked shots that led to breakaways.”
And Winona’s Carly Moran and Molly Sanvik took advantage. Moran finished with a hat-trick and Sanvik added two more goals, which came back-to-back in the second to give the Winhawks a 4-3 lead.
Noble, however, had consecutive goals of her own left in her. She capped the second period and opened the third with goals to give Owatonna the lead for good.
“Tonight was the night for Payton – and Paige on the setup – to really shine,” Hunst said.
In the net, Owatonna’s Jess Cole earned the win with 26 saves.
Foss takes big hit
Owatonna’s Megan Foss took an awkward hit into the boards during the second period. Her neck was immobilized and she was taken to the hospital in Winona.
“At the beginning she wasn’t feeling much, but the end she was squeezing their (EMT’s) hands and showing positive signs,” said Hunst, who was in the hospital waiting room at press time. “Hopefully everything’s OK. We’re here for her.”
Owatonna 6, Winona 5
OHS 3 1 2 – 6
W 2 2 1 – 5
First period
O-Payton Noble (Paige Radue)
O-Katy Johnson (Radue)
W-Carly Moran (Molly Sanvik)
O-Noble (Peyton DeVinny)
W-Moran
Second period
W-Sanvik (Moran)
W-Sanvik (Moran)
O-Noble (Radue, Alix Schallau)
Third period
O-Noble
O-Betty VonRuden (DeVinny)
W-Moran (Kaylin Wagner)
Reach sports editor Kaleb Roedel at 444-2374, or follow him on Twitter.com @OPPKaleb