![St. Paul Unitedís Sena Hanson (left) and Alexandriaís Lauren Niska chased a loose puck in the neutral zone in the first period. ] JIM GEHRZ ï james.gehrz@startribune.com / St. Paul, MN / February 17, 2016 /1:00 PM ñ BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Alexandria Area High School played St. Paul United in the Class 1A quarterfinals at the Xcel Energy Center at the 2016 Girls' hockey state tournament. St. Paul United won the game, 2-0.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/4SRRT6UPX2DGPXHYSECVQGJGBQ.jpg?&w=1080)
st. paul united 2, alexandria 0 |
Two referee calls decided winner
Alexandria goalie Amy Jost thought she had made the save, with the puck resting on her pads. The referees thought otherwise and allowed St. Paul United junior Joie Phelps to knock the puck into the net, giving her team a 1-0 lead late in the first period.
Two periods later, St. Paul United goalie Catherine Johnson thought she had covered up a loose puck. This time the referees agreed, blowing the whistle — despite video evidence that the puck came free — just before Alexandria tucked it into the net. No goal.
Those two plays, combined with exceptional goaltending, nicely summed up the win for No. 3-seeded St. Paul United (22-5-1).
"That happens in the game of hockey," said coach Blair Hovel of Alexandria (18-8-1). "The goal [Jost] gave up was laying on her pads. If the refs were quick on blowing the whistle there, we're still playing."
Jost had no problems with the goal. "She was there quick enough and she saw it," she said. "It was a good garbage goal."
On the other side, Johnson was certain the puck she stopped in the third period was controlled.
