International Falls junior Mackenzie Raboin thought she beat the horn in overtime Tuesday as she raised her arms after poking the puck through Park Rapids Area goalie Bailey Moore.
But the effort was just late, and the Broncos and Panthers skated to a 3-3 tie at Bronco Arena.
“The horn had gone. There was no goal,” Broncos head coach Gerald Bolstad said.
Sydney Gordon, Michelle McDonald and Raboin all scored for the Broncos, while goalie Taylar Nelson posted 19 saves.
Taylor Pachel, Leeza Tostenson and Jessica Gapinski scored for the Panthers (1-0-1)
The quick scrum in front of Moore as time expired in overtime capped a back-and-forth finish.
Late in regulation, McDonald came in on a rush and ricocheted a wrist shot off the bottom half of the crossbar.
In overtime, both teams exchanged numerous scoring chances before Broncos defenseman Alyssa Bergstrom went coast-to-coast with time running down. Moore pushed aside Bergstrom’s shot, but the Broncos held it in the zone and continued to test Moore, who finished with 27 saves. Raboin’s rebound attempt in front of the net came just after the horn sounded.
Bolstad said his team played well, but didn’t catch any breaks. And when they finally did, the horn had already sounded at the end of overtime.
“We couldn’t get a bounce all night and that was the microcosm of the game,” Bolstad said.
“That’s hockey. Some nights you get them, some nights you don’t.”
The Broncos (1-1-1) return to action Friday against Shakopee and Saturday against Princeton at the Silver Bay Tournament.
I. Falls 3, Park Rapids 3
PR 1 1 1—3
IF 1 2 0—3
First period — IF, Mackenzie Raboin (Kathryn West, Sydney Gordon), 8:03; PR, Taylor Pachel (Leeza Tostenson), 16:18.
Second period — IF, Gordon (Michelle McDonald, Amy Auran), 2:19; IF, McDonald, PP, 8:01; PR, Tostenson (Ashley Thelen, Allie Bade), 11:36.
Third period — PR, Jessica Gapinski (Bade), PP, 2:58.
Goalies — PR, Bailey Moore, 27 saves; IF, Taylar Nelson, 19 saves.
