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FARGO — Ella Yahna’s first shot was saved toward the end of the overtime period. It seemed an opportunity to win the game for Grand Forks had come and gone.
“I was like ‘Oh my gosh, I screwed up,” Yahna said. “But we talk about first and second chances. That was for sure a second chance that needed to happen in order win that game.”
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Her teammate fired another shot off Yahna’s rebound that was also saved. The rebound from that shot came to Yahna, who didn’t miss her second attempt to end the game.
Yahna’s goal lifted No. 2 seed Grand Forks over No. 6 Fargo Davies 3-2 in overtime in the North Dakota girls hockey state semifinals Friday at Scheels Arena.
“(Yahna), who always has a nose for the net, did a really good job not only spotting it but being able to get enough stick on it to put it in the back of the net,” said Grand Forks head coach Kelly Kilgore.
The KnightRiders advanced to the championship game against No. 5 West Fargo at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Scheels Arena.
Grand Forks makes its sixth state championship showing with its last appearance in 2017. The KnightRiders have yet to win a state title.
“It’s been a long time coming for this program,” said Kilgore, who noted there were “happy tears” in the locker room after the game.
Davies forward Jaden Melendez hammered home a rebound to tie the game 2-2 just over four minutes into the third period. Hudson Hofer deked through the barrage of KnightRiders defenders and put a shot on before Melendez buried it.
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Grand Forks grabbed their first lead near the 10-minute mark of the second period. Forward Dustee Balek swatted in a rebound that popped out to the bottom of the right circle.
The goal marked Balek’s second of the contest. She evened the game late in the first period with a power-play goal from the right circle.
“She is constantly there to block shots, take shots (and) be an offensive and different level player,” Yahna said of Balek.
Davies forward Sophia Rerick gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead early in the first period. Rerick ripped a shot from the top of the slot that caromed off the post, then the back of KnightRiders goalie Kylie Schmaltz’s leg and finally into the net.
“The girls are devastated, but they left it all out there,” Eagles head coach Josh Rogers said.
Davies plays No. 1 Fargo North/South in the third-place game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Scheels Arena.
Grand Forks split with United during the regular season, losing 2-1 in their last meeting.
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“They’re a really aggressive team. … They are and strong and fast, but we also have all those things,” Yahna said.
“We got to matchup with our speed and we got to matchup with a good defensive effort,” Kilgore added. “We’ll see what happens.”
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