UPDATE: The Willmar Cardinals delivered a thrilling victory over the River Lakes Stars with a 3-2 overtime win last night at River Lakes Civic Arena. This decisive win ends a frustrating six-game winless streak for the Cardinals, dating back to December 2, 2025.
Maya Cameron was the standout player, scoring two goals, including the game-winner just 3 minutes, 36 seconds into overtime. Her performance was crucial in solidifying Willmar’s first Central Lakes Conference victory, improving their record to 1-4-1 in the conference and 4-10-1 overall. Meanwhile, the River Lakes Stars are now 3-3-1 in the conference and 7-7-1 overall.
The game kicked off with River Lakes taking an early lead through Makayla Schrieber-Horn, who scored a power-play goal at 4:52 of the first period. However, the Cardinals rallied back as Cameron tied the game at 7:47 in the second period, followed by Parker Rucks giving Willmar a 2-1 lead at 12:52.
River Lakes fought back, with Bella Stang scoring a critical equalizer just 1 minute, 8 seconds into the third period. The intense matchup culminated in overtime, where Cameron’s final goal sealed the fate of the game.
Willmar’s goaltender, Bryn Behr, had an impressive performance, making 50 saves out of 52 shots, resulting in a remarkable .962 save percentage.
As the teams prepare for their next games, River Lakes will face Alexandria at 7:15 PM on Monday at Runestone Community Center, while Willmar is set to play Alexandria on Tuesday at 6:00 PM at the same venue.
Don’t miss these upcoming matches as both teams look to build on their recent performances in the Central Lakes Conference. The excitement surrounding the Cardinals’ comeback victory is sure to energize their supporters and players alike!
