Class A Girls Hockey State Third Place: Orono 5, South St. Paul 2

On Saturday morning, the Orono Spartans defeated the South St. Paul Packers 5-2 in the Class A third-place game at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul.  

At 8:47 in the first period, Orono senior Iyla Ryskamp scored the first goal of the game, assisted by freshman Macy Rasmussen. With ten seconds left in the period, Ryskamp put the puck in the net, assisted by freshman Zoe Lopez. The Spartans ended the period with nine shots on goals to the Packers’ two.  

South St. Paul senior Lilie Ramirez scored her first goal of the tournament at 1:09 of the second period. Ramirez was assisted by freshman Lily Pachl. With 16 seconds left in the period, Spartan sophomore Kaeli Koopman scored, assisted by senior Mia Lopez. Orono ended the period with 12 shots on goal and South Saint Paul had five. 

In the third period, South Saint Paul seventh-grader Paige Johnson scored, assisted by junior Sarah Wincentsen at 3:14. At 9:13, Orono freshman Anika Fortin scored, assisted by Rasmussen. This goal was followed by another from the Spartans at 10:11, when sophomore Alexa Niccum scored her first goal of the tournament, unassisted.  

Orono ended the game with 26 shots on goal and South Saint Paul had 17. The Spartans finished the season 26-4-0 and the Packers finished 16-11-2.