Luverne Punches Ticket to State with Double OT Victory Over Mankato West
It took over 62 minutes of heart-pounding action, but Luverne is headed to the Class A State Tournament after a dramatic 3-2 double-overtime victory over Mankato West in the Section 3A Championship.
Game Recap
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First Period: A defensive battle ensued in the opening frame, as neither team could break through, leaving the game scoreless after one.
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Second Period: The game came to life as Mankato West struck first on the power play, with Keaton Dorzek scoring at 5:37 and again at 10:15, giving the Scarlets a 2-0 advantage. However, Luverne answered back, cutting the deficit to 2-1 with a power-play goal from Landyn Lais (12:55). Just under two minutes later, Blaik Bork found the back of the net at 14:48, tying the game at 2-2 heading into the third.
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Third Period & First OT: The intensity ramped up as both teams had opportunities to take the lead, but goalies Mason Schreiber (Mankato West) and Gavin Hoven (Luverne) stood tall, forcing overtime. Neither team could capitalize in the first extra frame, sending the game into double overtime.
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Second Overtime: The moment of glory came at 3:55 of the second OT, as Blaik Bork delivered the game-winning goal, sending Luverne to the Class A State Tournament in thrilling fashion.
Key Performers
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Luverne:
- Blaik Bork – 2 Goals, including the double-overtime winner
- Landyn Lais – 1 Goal
- Gavin Hoven – 31 Saves on 33 Shots (.935 SV%)
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Mankato West:
- Keaton Dorzek – 2 Goals (Both on Power Play)
- Mason Schreiber – 32 Saves on 35 Shots (.914 SV%)
Next Up
With the Section 3A title in hand, Luverne advances to the Minnesota Class A State Tournament, where they will look to continue their magical postseason run on the biggest stage at the Xcel Energy Center.
Follow the Puck for full state tournament coverage, matchups, and analysis at www.followthepuck.com.
