Warroad regroups to beat Hibbing/Chisholm 5-2 in girls' hockey Class 1A quarterfinal

After a scoreless first period, Warroad eighth-grader Genevieve Hendrickson got the Warriors started with a goal 1 minute, 36 seconds into the second period against Hibbing/Chisholm. They appeared to score again, but the goal was disallowed and the team had to regroup, coach David Marvin said.

Then junior Madison Oelkers scored a pair of goals, both assisted by senior Mariah Gardner.

"These two took over for us a little bit," Marvin said of Oelkers and Gardner. "And that's been a common theme when we've had success."

The three-goal period broke open the game for No. 3 seed Warroad (18-8-2) en route to a 5-2 victory over Hibbing/Chisholm (17-11-1) on Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center.

Oelkers added two assists, and Gardner scored a goal and had four assists. Oelkers, with 81 points on the season, and Gardner, with 78, are both committed to Minnesota State Mankato.

Oelkers' first goal of the game was a well-executed tip-in off a pass from Gardner. Oelkers had her stick in the right place for the tip as she drove with speed toward the net.

"If she's carrying it in wide, I know [to] go to the net because she'll find me and she'll slip a pass through anyone's legs just to get to my stick," Oelkers said.