Orono's Iyla Ryskamp shot the puck past Mankato East goalie Annaliese Rader for Orono's fifth goal Wednesday. Photos by BRIAN PETERSON, Star Tribune
Orono hockey captain. Spartans leading scorer. Senior forward Iyla Ryskamp has several identities. She added exterminator on Wednesday after squashing her teammates’ jitterbugs.
The Spartans’ Class 1A state tournament debut featured a Ryskamp goal less than two minutes into the game. The pressure off, Orono built a four-goal cushion in the opening period and went on to a 7-1 victory against Mankato East.
Ryskamp tallied her 43rd goal of the season for No. 2 seed Orono (25-3) just 1:53 into the game.
“We talked about it in the locker room that we wanted to get ahead first and get rid of the nerves,” said Ryskamp, who buried her breakaway chance.
“It was huge; it kind of let our girls settle in,” Orono coach Sean Fish said. “And then after that, I think we took over that period.”
Two goals from Mia Lopez and another from her sister Zoe Lopez put Mankato East (21-6) into a considerable early hole.
Jess Eykyn gave her underdog Cougars a spark with her goal in the second period. Ryskamp responded with her second goal of the game, this one on the power play.
“If they get the next one, it’s a two-goal game,” Fish said. “So getting that one was really big.”
Ryskamp completed the hat trick in the third period.
Forward McKenzie Keller took solace in helping the Cougars reach their third state tournament in five seasons.
“It’s exciting, the way we’re building this program,” Keller said.
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