Huskies Come From Behind in Tie Against KUA

With their Small School playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Huskies skated into their regular season finale against KUA knowing a win or tie was the only way to keep their postseason dreams alive. For KUA, the stakes were just as high as a win or tie was necessary to stay alive in the Lakes Region playoff race. Meanwhile, New Hampton School had already secured the #2 seed in the Lakes Region and home ice for Friday’s Lakes Region semifinal on 2/27, regardless of the outcome. KUA wasted no time playing with desperation. From the opening faceoff, they pressured the Huskies and forced them onto their heels. The first shot of the game came off a KUA stick — and it was a snipe — beating the Huskies’ goaltender cleanly and stunning the home side with an early 1–0 deficit. After the early punch, the Huskies settled in. They began to control possession and dictate pace, hemming KUA in their defensive zone for extended stretches. Despite generating quality looks, they were unable to find the equalizer before the first intermission. The second period told a different story. Junior captain Emma MacPherson ’27 ignited her team with an unbelievable shot that found the back of the net, knotting the game at 1–1 and injecting life into the Huskies’ bench. Momentum had shifted, but special teams soon became the difference. Penalty trouble proved costly, as KUA capitalized on two separate power play opportunities. Sandwiched between those tallies was a clutch goal from freshman Emilie Poirier ’29, who buried one of her own to tie the game at 2–2. However, KUA’s second power play strike restored their lead, sending the Huskies into the third period trailing once again. Goaltender Elizabeth Vincent ’27 stood tall throughout, particularly during KUA’s dangerous power play chances. Time and again she turned aside quality opportunities, keeping her team within striking distance. The third period was all Huskies. Relentless on the forecheck and dominant in possession, the Huskies outshot KUA 19–1 in the final frame. Their push paid off when Kiara Drake ’27 redirected a power play point shot from Addy Peel ’26, tipping it home to even the score at 3–3 and swing momentum firmly to the Huskies’ side. From there, it felt like only a matter of time, but hockey can be cruel. The KUA goaltender stood on her head, aided by more than a little puck luck, as the Huskies rang multiple shots off the post in search of their first lead of the afternoon. Despite wave after wave of pressure, the breakthrough never came, and the game headed to overtime. The extra session was a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle, with both teams cautiously seeking the game-winner. Quality chances were limited, and both goaltenders rose to the moment, preserving the 3–3 deadlock until the final horn. While the tie keeps KUA’s playoff hopes alive, the Huskies now turn their focus to the Lakes Region playoffs, and potentially the NEPSAC Small School Tournament, as they begin their quest for a fourth consecutive championship. To achieve it, they’ll look to recapture the dominant offensive form that defined their third period surge. The road ahead won’t be easy. But if Saturday’s resilience proved anything, it’s that this Huskies squad has the fight, firepower, and belief to make another deep run.