Breck has been awaiting the return of leading scorer Grace Zumwinkle, but her absence hasn't kept the Mustangs from succeeding.
Zumwinkle has been away the past two weeks playing with the U.S. Women’s Under-18 National Team at the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 World Championship in Ontario, Canada.
Zumwinkle returned to Minnesota last weekend with a gold medal following Team USA's victory over Canada in the championship game last Friday.
Playing without Zumwinkle in the lineup, Breck has ascended to the top spot in the Class 1A coaches' poll after shutting out previously top-ranked Blake and defeating No. 10-2A Cretin Derham Hall.
“We’re really proud of her and everything she accomplished on Team USA,” said Anna Zumwinkle, Grace’s older sister. “I always tell her to have the next game be better than the last. Keep it moving and never get complacent.”
Grace put the last few weeks behind her and assumed her role as Breck’s sharpshooter on Tuesday night, tallying a hat trick in the Mustangs’ 4-2 win over St. Paul United at Drake Arena in St. Paul.
The win boosted Breck (18-3, 3-1) into a tie with No. 2-1A Blake atop the Independent Metro Athletic Conference standings, while St. Paul United (18-3-1, 1-2) remained in third after the loss.
It took Grace, a Minnesota commit, nearly an entire period to notch her first goal Tuesday, as the Zumwinkle sisters teamed up on a give-and-go in United’s zone to put the Mustangs on the scoreboard with less than three minutes remaining in first period.
Anna dished the puck back to Grace, who wheeled through the top of the slot and fired a shot that evaded the glove of goaltender Catherine Johnson.
The United's Joie Phelps answered 20 seconds later, scoring point-blank on Breck’s Jenna Brenneman to send the game into the first intermission tied 1-1.
Amanda Navratil scored early in the second, and seven minutes later, Grace followed with another to give the Mustangs a two-goal lead. It was a tenuous advantage, however, as Breck had to weather a 22-shot barrage during the 17 minutes of play, including a four-minute power play.
“Jenna made some clutch saves when we needed her and kept us in the game,” Grace Zumwinkle said.
Brenneman was up for the challenge, entering the game with 101 consecutive saves through four shutouts, including her 33-save performance against Blake.
“She’s just got the determination,” Breck coach Ronda Engelhardt said. “We were giving up too many chances and that’s something we’ll have to work on moving forward.”
The Mustangs gave up only four shots to the No. 3-1A United (18-3-1) in the final period but allowed a goal by Sena Hanson that cut the lead to one.
Grace’s final goal came after she collected a rebound of a shot she rang off the pipe. Grace then fired the puck into the legs of a United defender before finally sliding a backhand shot into the net and putting the game out of reach.
Blake and Breck each have one league game remaining against St. Paul United, with the outcomes to decide which team takes the conference title this season, and Grace figures to play another prominent role when the Mustangs meet the United again.
“We learned how to battle and win games without (Grace), but of course we like having all nine forwards with Grace here,” Engelhardt said.
