Junior PaisLee Lystig stands at middle ice with no one but Northland Pines’ goaltender and a referee with her. The referee blows the whistle, signaling to Lystig to begin her penalty shot. She skates towards the net, makes a move, and tucks the puck behind the goalie. The Superior bench erupts with excitement as Lystig’s shot gives the Spartans a 1-0 lead with just 10 seconds left in the first period. Lystig’s goal was the first of six more to come, punching in Superior’s ticket at the WIAA girls hockey state tournament.
The Spartans matched up against Northland Pines on Feb. 28 at Hayward Sport Center for the sectional final game. The Spartans won 7-0 with a hat trick from senior captain Addy Benson, a pair of goals from Lystig, and one each from freshmen Gianna Giessler and Nora Madsen.
“I’m really excited and honestly, I didn’t even know I scored a hat trick until I saw my mom throwing a hat onto the ice,” said Benson.
The first period remained 0-0 until the final few seconds when a penalty was committed against Lystig. Superior was given a penalty shot and Lystig did not disappoint, scoring the first goal giving them a 1-0 lead. Sophomore goalie Peyton Benoit ended the first period with a total of seven saves.
The Spartans started the second period on a penalty kill but continued to hold off the Eagles. Soon after, Benson scored her first goal on a power play and then connected with Giessler for an assist, ending the second period 3-0.
Benson and the Spartans did not let off the gas in the third period. Early in the third, Benson, Lystig, and Madsen buried three shots in the back of the net in just 32 seconds. Benson’s third goal was the final for Superior and Benoit respectively earned her first varsity shutout of the season with a total of 13 shots on net.
“My thought process throughout the whole game was just get through it and don’t let my eyes off the puck, so it felt pretty great to get my first shutout at the section finals,” Benoit said.
The Spartans will head down to Madison for the state tournament on Wednesday but will play on Thursday, March 5.
