Anoka captain Ashley Muckway and her teammates have no problem handling the pressure of playing in close games.

“Eh, we’re used to it now,” Muckway said causally. 

The Tornadoes senior forward isn’t kidding. 

Anoka has been in five one-goal games this season, with three ending in overtime including an 11-10 victory over Northwest Suburban Conference rival Robbinsdale Armstrong on Monday.

Tornadoes head coach Richard Wulf said his team has benefitted from the stressful situations.

“The girls are starting to get more confidence,” Wulf said. “Nothing seems to rattle them.”

Muckway is a prime example of poise under pressure. She scored the tying goal with 27 seconds left in regulation time, and then netted the game-winner with 2 seconds remaining in overtime. 

Muckway, who has 12 goals in eight games, said one phrase ran through her mind in the game’s closing seconds: “We’re winning.” 

Wulf said the team respects Muckway for her leadership skills, and junior captain Taylor Kinn called Muckway a role model.

“I really look up to her in a lot of ways, and I’ll have a lot of things to learn from her,” said Kinn, who had a hat trick against the Falcons. 

Both Kinn, who leads the team with 15 goals, and Muckway said they want their team to feel like a family, and one way to strengthen team relationships is by supporting players’ interests outside of lacrosse. 

Senior Sarah Smith is one player feeling the love. Smith is not only one of Anoka’s key defenders, but she also participates in theater. 

For the past few weeks, Smith has been balancing lacrosse with her commitment to a role in Anoka’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” 

Wulf and the school’s theater director understand Smith’s passion for participating in both activities and have made some necessary accommodations. 

Smith said she’s gone to play practice in cleats and lacrosse gear and has hit the field in theater makeup, but her team and castmates accept the circumstances. 

“I’ve been playing lacrosse forever and have a love and a drive for it, and theater too,” Smith said. “I can’t pick.”

Smith said the Tornadoes are gaining an advantage from learning to deal with pressure, whether it’s the stress of performing in a production or the stress of playing in tight lacrosse games.

“I feel like we’re bonding as a team and are going to make it really far,” Smith said. 

Muckway said Anoka won’t judge its success by how far the Tornadoes go in the postseason, but rather by the strength of the team's relationships.

“Anoka family is what I like to see,” said Muckway, who will play lacrosse at Colorado State University next spring. “I like winning, but it is good to bond with the team.”

Senior captain Ashley Muckway scored the game-winning goal with 2 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Anoka over Northwest Suburban Conference rival Robbinsdale Armstrong 11-10 at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School on Monday. 

Muckway also scored with 27 seconds left in regulation, forcing overtime and causing the field lights to shine down on the players longer than originally planned. 

Senior forwards Hayley Holdahl and Amy Master had two goals apiece for the Falcons (5-3, 5-2), who led 9-6 with 8:45 remaining in the second half.

However, the Tornadoes rallied behind goals from freshman midfielder Emily Smith and junior midfielder Kassie Burkey before Muckway’s game-tying goal.

In overtime, Robbinsdale Armstrong took an early lead when sophomore forward Maggie Hanson scored. But Anoka responded, tying the game 10-10 with 1:19 to play on another goal from Burkey.

Junior midfielder Taylor Kinn finished three first-half goals for the Tornadoes (5-3, 4-3).

Falcons senior goalie Isabel Snow finished with 19 saves, while Anoka sophomore goalie Brenah Sarell had 14.

Spotlight Game Coverage