Irondale freshman forward Sena Hanson
Scoring one game-winning, season-saving goal is more than most hockey players accomplish in a career.
Scoring two -- in back-to-back games in the same week, no less -- rarely happens, outside of driveways and backyard rinks.
But that's what Hanson, a freshman left winger, did last week.
Last Tuesday, she flipped in the game-winner with one second left in overtime in a 6-5 victory over Centennial in the Class 2A, Section 5 semifinals.
"That made me feel a lot better," Hanson said. "I got the penalty that let [Centennial] get the tying goal. Samantha Donovan drew the puck back to me and there was no one there. I just shot it and it trickled in."
Then last Friday, Hanson scored an even bigger goal. With 18 seconds left in the section championship game against top-seeded Mounds View, she stole the puck from a defenseman and wristed a shot into the upper corner. The goal broke a 1-1 tie and sent the Knights to the Class 2A tournament for the third time in team history.
While thrilled and still a little stunned by her clutch goals, Hanson made a point of crediting her linemates, Donovan and Alex Toupal, for her success.
"I think it just started sinking in," she said. "But it's because I play with two great players on my line. They're always covered, so I just get open a lot."