White Bear Lake at Cretin Derham Hall Recap
A Rainy Day in St. Paul - Saint Paul, MN
On another April night in Minnesota, the weather threatened cold, rain, sleet, hail, and even snow. However, the weather was unaware of the overtime thriller due to happen on Hamline Avenue.
White Bear Lake (2-0), coming off an up and down 2022 season that ended in a Section 4 Semifinal loss to Stillwater, came to Saint Paul on Wednesday night looking to square off against Cretin Derham Hall (1-1). The Raiders of CDH themselves are coming off an 11-4 2022 season that saw them falling in the Section 3 Semifinal.
Despite the cold temperatures and strong winds, both programs were fired up and eager to face each other. Mere moments after the opening draw, the game was tied at one a piece. From the beginning there was a feeling that both teams were ready to answer every punch until the very end, despite what either team could dish out.
CDH was the first to go on a run, quickly gaining a 4-1 lead, aided by two goals and an assist from Junior midfielder Sofia Watts (3G, 2A). White Bear Lake maintained their composure despite the early deficit, and responded back to CDH’s run with two goals of their own, both from Junior attacker Jaeda Jensen (3G, 1A), and one assist from Junior midfielder Beverly Peterson (1G, 1A).
The first half would end with CDH maintaining a one goal lead, and the momentum even for both teams.
White Bear Lake, however, capitalized on the energy from their late first half goal, and quickly tied the game with an unassisted goal from Jensen, followed then by an eight meter goal from Olivia Simpkins (3G) to take a 5-4 lead over the Raiders.
Despite the big run from the Bears, Cretin was not willing to back away. The Raiders were able to respond and tie the game up at six a piece when seventh grader Jordyn Rosga (4G) scored her third goal of the night, unassisted.
The game would then go back and forth the rest of the way. Cretin was the first to gain back the lead at 6-5, but White Bear Lake was quick to respond, and then retake the lead for themselves at 7-6. White Bear Lake junior goalie Mesa McElmury (12S) then made one of the best plays of the night. With about six minutes remaining in the game, the junior goaltender was left one on one in front of her own crease, but stood tall and stuffed the shot, keeping the WBL lead to one.
Not to be discouraged by outstanding goalie play, CDH midfielder Jordyn Rosga decided to take matters into her own hands. Taking the ball from almost midfield, the seventh grader ran through most of the WBL defense, despite exiting the game shortly before with an injury, and scored the game tying goal, bringing the score to seven a piece. Sofia Watts then notched her third goal of the night, bringing the Raiders back out to a one goal lead.
White Bear Lake would yet again refuse to go down without a fight. With less than three minutes left in the game, Olivia Simpkins dove through the middle of the CDH defensive unit, and tied the game for the final time.
Ultimately, this instant classic would have to be settled in overtime. Jaeda Jensen would find Beverly Peterson for her first goal of the night, and the final dagger in St. Paul.
Both teams showed strong resilience in this contest, proving it is truly anyone’s game until the final whistle is blown. Hats off to both coaching staffs for keeping their teams focused and centered, allowing them to respond to the opposing runs.
White Bear Lake is back in action on April 21, when they take on Park of Cottage Grove at home. Cretin Derham Hall takes on Forest Lake on April 21 at home in their next contest.
