Waupaca Area survived a scare in the opening round of the WIAA state girls’ hockey tournament.
Down 4-2 to Fond du Lac heading into the third period, Waupaca Area scored three unanswered goals – including Mandy Tomlinson’s game winner in overtime – and picked up a 5-4 win over the Warbirds Feb. 19 at the Waupaca Ice & Expo Center.
Waupaca Area will now face defending state champion Bay Area Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the Cornerstone Community Ice Center. A time had not been determined as of Friday, Feb. 20.
Callie Tighe put the Warbirds on the board midway through the second quarter, but Brianne Huettner tied the game 16 seconds later off of Avrey Simonson’s assist.
Tomlinson gave Waupaca Area its first lead later in the period, with Huettner and Katerina Otter getting credit for the assist.
Tighe found the net again to tie the score at 2-2 and the Warbirds added goals from Miranda Zipp and Brecken Overbo in the final two minutes of the second period to give the visitors a 4-2 lead.
Markie Ash cut the lead to 4-3 36 seconds into the third period off of Tomlinson’s assist and Tomlinson’s second goal off of a Huettner assist tied the game at 4-4 with 4:12 remaining.
Tomlinson picked up the hat trick with an unassisted goal with 3:51 to go in overtime.
Fond du Lac outshot Waupaca Area 48-44.