Eastview Girls Hockey Falls to Rosemount in OT

Eastview girls hockey goalie Delaney McKay stopped the first 23 shots that came her way in the team's Saturday game against Rosemount.

But it was the 24th at became the Lightning’s undoing. With just less than five minutes to play in overtime, after a scoreless three periods, Rosemount’s Rachael Kelly found a lose puck in front of the net and was able to slide it past McKay for the game’s only goal.

Eastview controlled the action early, outshooting the Irish 10 to six in the first period; nearly five minutes had passed before the Irish were able to get their first shot on goal.

The Lightning peppered Rosemount’s goalie early, but came away with no points for their efforts.

The Irish were able to slow down the Lighting’s top scoring line in the physical game, and they also kept the pressure on after the early onslaught by Eastview.

“There were bodies flying all night,” said Rosemount head coach Tracey Cassano. “The refs let us play.”

Just before the game-ending goal there were a few bodies sliding across the ice, but officials didn't make a call, a decision with which Eastview coach Herb Harvey was not too pleased.

The puck made its way to Kelly’s stick and into the net for her 28th goal of the year and 60th point, both team highs.

“They are our biggest rival,” Cassano said of Eastview. “We thought coming in that whoever won this game would be the top seed in the section.”

While the seedings will be released this week, they could mean a return match for the right to go to the state tournament in a few weeks. It would be the fourth time the teams would meet this year, with the Lighting having won the first two match-ups 5-4 and 6-3.