Class A Girls Hockey State Quarterfinal: Orono 7, Mankato East 1
Posted: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - 1:10 PM
Orono, the No. 2-seed in the Class A field, opened the 2022 Minnesota State High School League’s Girls Hockey State Tournament by racing past Mankato East in a 7-1 on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul.
As she has done all season, senior center Lyla Ryskamp powered the Spartans (25-3-0) with three goals and an assist to send Orono into the Class A semifinals on Friday where it will await the winner of Wednesday’s second quarterfinal between Albert Lea and Proctor/Hermantown. Ryskamp took 20 shots during the game, including 12 that were on goal. She had a goal in each period, capping the hat trick with just more than six minutes remaining in regulation time. Ryskamp now has 45 goals and 42 assists this season.
Senior forward Mai Lopez added two goals for the Spartans, who outshot the Cougars (21-6-0) by a 43-15 margin. Freshman Alex Paulsen chipped in three assists.
Sophomore forward Jessica Eyken had Mankato East’s lone goal early in the second period that helped the Cougars carve into a 4-0 deficit after one period of play. Mankato West moves to the consolation side of the bracket and will play the loser between Albert Lea and Proctor/Hermantown on Thursday at TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center a few blocks away from the Xcel Energy Center.