High school teams often select the last game of the regular season for their senior day, recognizing the athletes that will be graduating in the spring.
This winter the Ponies opted to use Saturday’s game against Suburban East Conference rival Cretin-Derham Hall for those festivities — their fourth-to-last game of the regular season. But on a day of recognition for seniors, it was clear that a team with only four 12th graders on the varsity roster needs to rely on younger players to contribute.
And scoring contribution is exactly what Stillwater received, as freshmen Myah Krueger and Brooke Nelson each scored in a three-goal second period for Stillwater that helped propel the Ponies to a 4-1 victory over the Raiders (10-4-1) at the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center in Stillwater.
Ponies coach Mira Jalosuo estimates her varsity roster trends toward being one of the youngest in the state, but that hasn’t stopped the Ponies, ranked No. 5 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, from having a successful season thus far.
“That’s obviously a statement for the whole group,” Jalosuo said. “The seniors are doing a nice job leading the underclassmen in the right direction, and the underclassmen are feeling the push.”
A slow start didn’t stop Stillwater from utilizing a second-period surge to pull away in a 4-1 defeat of Suburban East Conference rival Cretin-Derham Hall on Saturday at the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center in Stillwater.
After a scoreless first period, the Ponies, who are ranked No. 6 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, fired 20 shots on goal and scored three times in a middle period, helping the Ponies to a 3-1 lead over the Raiders.
Stillwater’s Myah Krueger, Lexi Huber, and Brooke Nelson each scored in the offensive outburst. Countering that production was Cretin-Derham Hall’s Lexi Bonfe, who tied the game at 1-1 for the Raiders (10-4-1) less than a minute into the second period.
Sydney Schuster added a goal for Stillwater (13-2-1) early in the third period.
Raiders goaltender Hannah Fritz made 25 saves while Stillwater’s Sophie Cronk stopped 24 shots on goal.
The MN Girls' Hockey Hub poll is for entertainment purposes only.