We have a lot of amazing people who just want it so much more and we just show up to practice and we have that grit in us that wants us to go and win games.”

Natalie Post, senior forward

It took the Wolfpack a period to find itself Friday in the final game of the regular season, but once the Wolfpack warmed to the task, they did well.

Visiting Western Wisconsin shock things up a bit early, taking a 1-0 lead in the first period before Park came back to score five straight goals in a 5-1 victory at Cottage Grove Ice Arena.

The Wolfpack thus ended the 2024-25 regular season with a winning record at 12-11-2.

It was a very satisfying end for this year’s seniors, many of which played as eighth graders on a 2020-21 Park team that didn’t win a single game, going 0-16. Those seniors have led a resurgence in Wolfpack girls' hockey, going 8-17 in 21-22, to 9-15-2 in 22-23, 9-17-1 last season and then this year’s 12-win team -- 12 wins so far that is with the section playoffs looming.

“Definitely coming from our eighth-grade year, having zero wins to now having 12 wins, that’s pretty impressive and I’m just proud of our team and everyone’s that’s got us here,” said senior forward Natalie Post. “We have a lot of amazing people who just want it so much more and we just show up to practice and we have that grit in us that wants us to go and win games.”

Park will play in the post season starting Wednesday.

“It’s tough when it just ends quickly like this,” said Wolfpack head coach Bay Shock. “You get your last home game and I thought they played really well. Really well. A couple seniors got goals and you can just tell they’re a tight bunch of kids. The tears are there and they’re happy.”

Senior Natalie Post and sophomore Addie Corkish gave Park a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period. Lauren Tait made it a 3-1 lead with a goal early in the second. The Park blew the game open with power play goals by sophomore Alaina Post and senior Lauren Osland within two minutes of each other midway through the second period.

“Going to the net,” Shock said was the difference in the second period. “You know that team kind of played position hockey. They didn’t want to give us any chances. We used our speed, got to the net, got some rebounds and moved the pick pretty well. A couple of power plays, we were moving the puck. It was just nice because you know, they got the first goal and you just wonder, because it’s senior night, a lot of emotions and we’ll blame it on the senior night for the first period.”

“I think the biggest things was we were connecting passes and we were working more as a team instead of individuals and we were just making the simple plays and not doing extra stride or something that we would need to do,” said senior Kyra Stoffer when asked the difference between the first and second periods. “I just think it went a lot better after the first.”

Neither team scored in the third period.

Maleah McMorrow and Alaina Post each posted two assists. Keira Brennan had the other assist.

“I think we did really good on passing and just connecting as a team,” said senior defender Madi Brinkman. “We had a lot of good rushes and our passes were just on point every time tonight.”

Goalies Gabriella Stepka (7 for 7 stops) and Alayna Adamez (5 for 6 stops) shared the net win, combining to stop 12 of 13 Western Wisconsin shots.

After being held scoreless in their last two conference contests, the Wolfpack drove in 12 goals in their final two games of the regular season.

Park’s six seniors were honored prior to the game’s start: Natalie Post, Madi Brinkman, Lauren Osland, Natalia Martineau, Krya Stoffer and Josie Leonard.

Park 7, St. Paul/Two Rivers 3

Park snapped a two-game scoreless and losing streak and triumphed in its next-to-last game of the regular season Tuesday, scoring a 7-3 win against St. Paul/Two Rivers at the West St. Paul Arena.

Park trailed 2-1 heading into the final period but outscored the hosts 6-1 in the final period to breeze to the victory.

Senior Lauren Osland, along with sophomores Stella Daly and Nora Thurmes each scored two goals for the Wolfpack, while Alaina Post had one tally. Park’s seven goals were the most scored in a game this season.

Alayna Adamez got another win in goal, stopping 15 of 18 shots.

Park evened its season record at 11-11-2.

Fifth-seeded Park (12-11-2) will play at fourth-seeded Lakeville North (12-11-1) Wednesday starting at 7 p.m. at Lakeville Ames Arena in the quarterfinals of the girls 3AA Section Tournament. The winner advances to the semifinals on Feb. 8.