Polusny Named to All-Tournament Team; Westonka Coach Looks Back on Season

The Mound Westonka girl's hockey wrapped up a busy two weeks that started with a section championship victory against Mankato East and ended with a loss in the consolation championship game in the State Tournament.

Click here for a complete photo gallery of Mound Westonka's trip to the State Tournament.

“The future is bright for Westonka girl’s hockey, the JV team had a very successful season and I would also like to congratulate the varsity for a first of what we hope are many trips to the state tournament," head coach Chris Erickson said. "We are very proud of the effort of all the girls.”

Polusny Named to All Tournament team

White Hawks vs. Blake

The White Hawk girls opened up the tournament with a 5-2 loss to eventual tournament champions Blake. Emma Polusny earned her All-Tournament credentials when Bake came out strong early on and outshot the White Hawks 11-3 in the opening period.  

Mid-way though the second frame, Abby Brustad notched the first White Hawk State Tournament goal with an end-to-end rush that ended with a backhand shot that slid past a spread out Blake goaltender.  

After making Westonka State Tournament history, Abby said “It’s so exciting, we were talking about it before the game. Someone brought it up, ‘who’s going to score the first goal?’”  

The second period ended with the White Hawks behind 3-1 and being outshot 23-5.

The White Hawks came out flying in the third period and came within a goal of the Blake Bears when Liz Schepers slammed home a rebound to notch her first tournament goal. Blake delivered a knockout punch when they scored seven seconds later to take back the two-goal lead.  

White Hawks vs. Alexandria

The White Hawks opened up the consolation bracket against Alexandria, a team who was looking for revenge after falling 6-3 to the White Hawks at Thaler Arena over Thanksgiving weekend.

Neither team scored in the first period in what was a fast paced, physical frame.

Alexandria had a slight advantage, having outshot the White Hawks 11-8. After falling behind 0-2 in the second frame, the White Hawks got on the board with a goal from team goal leader Jessica Nkhata with an assist to Brustad.  

Schepers tied the game at two mid-way through the third period with her second goal of the tournament.

With one minute left in the overtime period, Jessica Nkhata having placed her body in the goalies crease, hammered home a rebound for the game winner

Consolation Championship vs. Hibbing/Chisholm

In a hard fought, physical game, the White Hawks dropped the Consolation Championship 2-1 to Hibbing/ Chisholm.

The Bluejackets made the White Hawks pay for getting in early penalty trouble by scored on their first two power play opportunities to take a 2–0 lead.

Grace Holmen made it a one goal game when she scored mid-way through the second period on a blistering wrist shot from the top of the circle.

Hibbing held back multiple Westonka scoring chances in the 3rd period and went on to take the Consolation Championship 2-1.