Girls hockey team opens with 11-0 rout

What a difference a year makes.

Winless last season and scoring just 22 goals in 16 games, Park’s Wolfpack wasted little time getting this year’s girls hockey season off to a rousing start, skating past visiting Red Wing 11-0 in the season opener Friday.

Offensively challenged last season, the lopsided victory lifted a huge monkey off the Wolfpack’s backs.

Going into the season, Park’s goal was to be more offensive, and they did that Friday in a big way. The Wolfpack had 57 shots on goal to just four for Red Wing.

Molly Villas and Maaggie Jensen each scored a pair of goals to lead Park. Natalie Post, Shelby Hansen, Maddie Brickman, Taylar Nadler, Avery Tait, Sam Miller and Kyra Stofer also got in the scoring binge with one goal apiece. Miller, Stofer, Tait and Brinkman all got their first varsity goals.

Villas led Park with three assists, while Jensen and Miller added two assists each. Park had 11 assists for its 13 goals.

“(It was a) pretty solid opening night,” said Park coach Bay Shock.

Park goalie Tori Stepka didn’t face a lot of shots in goal, but stopped the four shots that came her way for a perfect opening outing.

Park (1-0) plays at always strong Stillwater Saturday, then against Woodbury Tuesday, Nov. 23, at Health East Sports Center starting at 7:30 p.m.

Thunderbolts gain adapted soccer state tournament

The South Washington County Thunderbolts played their way back to the state adapted soccer tournament with a 3-1 win over North Suburban Thursday at Centennial High School.

The Thunderbolts will play Dakota United on Friday, Nov. 19, in the CI adapted soccer state quarterfinals, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Stillwater High School. The winners advance to Saturday’s semifinals with the losing team going into consolation play.

South Washington County has won the adapted soccer state tournament title four times, in 1997, 1998, 2014 and 2019 and finished second three times.