In any other game, the whack Ashley Kloncz took at the puck late in the third period might have been perceived as a sign of built-up, game-long frustration.

Not Thursday. Kloncz just wanted to see what would happen next. And why not?

Already with two straight goals for No. 4 seed Lakeville North using two different sticks, Kloncz completed the natural hat trick with lucky No. 3 in the waning minutes to put a bow on a 5-0 Panthers victory over Roseau in the Class 2A girls’ hockey quarterfinals at Xcel Energy Center.

“Whatever stick works, I guess,” Kloncz said.

Linemate Alexis Joyce tied a tournament record with assists on all five goals to up her team-record point total to 63 for the season. She initiated the play that eventually led to Christi Vetter’s first-period goal to begin the rout.

The prettiest play came late in the second period. Joyce and Kloncz played keep-away with the puck to the right of the Rams’ net before Kloncz sniped in a goal from the face off dot.

“[Joyce] moves the puck around like that and makes everyone around her better,” Lakeville North coach Buck Kochevar said. “And I think she’s got a few more in her.”

Cassie Alexander stopped all 15 shots she faced in the game.

The result is a far cry from two years ago, when the Panthers went two-and-out including a 5-4 overtime loss to the Rams in the consolation bracket.

If Kloncz keeps burying passes from Joyce, the luck could continue to turn.

“This team has a lot more heart and we all play together better,” Kloncz said. “We all keep our heads in the game and don’t get down easy.”

1. Alexis Joyce, Lakeville North 

Joyce, a sophomore forward, assisted on all five goals for the Panthers. A ridiculous effort, the five points brings her total to 63 (26 goals, 37 assists) on the season. Joyce had 12 points in three games in the section playoffs alone, including a seven point performance and five point performance respectively in the first two games. She is definitely a spark for Lakeville North. 

2. Ashley Kloncz, Lakeville North

The junior forward had a hat trick in the victory, moving her to 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) on the season.  She scored the third goal of the game which seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the squad from Roseau. After scoring the third, she netted two more to finish the game. 

3. Christi Vetter, Lakeville North

Vetter scored once and tacked on two assists for the victorious Panthers. The sophomore forward brought her season tally to 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) for high-scoring Lakeville North. 

-- Walker Orenstein, MN Girls Hockey Hub staff