Junior midfielder Ava Mosely completed her hat trick by scoring the sudden-death goal with 1:58 on the clock to send the Stillwater sideline into a frenzy.

“We went into overtime last year and we lost,” Mosely said. “So this was kind of our comeback. I don’t even know how to explain it. After I saw it go in, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my life.”

Rosemount (3-2), ranked No. 8 in the April 24 state coaches poll, graduated its top four scorers and has a new goalie after taking fourth place at the state tournament. The Irish have just two seniors and no juniors on the roster with an all-underclassmen attack.

What lacks in experience is made up for in talent. Midfielder Aubrey Zaun’s four goals led the Irish’s hat trick trio of sophomores featuring midfielder Ella Mills and attack Nessa Carrico.

Head coach Kelsey Long’s Rosemount squad is deep, too. After Stillwater senior attack Ellie Fisher opened the game’s scoring, the Irish rattled off five straight goals by five different players.

The No. 6-ranked Ponies (5-1) clawed as close as two in the first half before the Irish jumped ahead 11-5 thanks to three straight goals.

Needing a spark, Stillwater got one when senior co-captain midfielder Tori Liljegren slung it to Fisher for a buzzer-beating goal to cut the halftime deficit to six.

That was a start.

Stillwater head coach Ali Schmitz told her team what was necessary to finish.

“We talked about how it was going to come down to effort, hard work and heart,” Schmitz said. “Both teams were going to be very skilled and evenly-matched.” 

Considering last year’s tight contest, Schmitz knew her squad would have to dig deep to put points on the board, and ultimately level the playing field. 

“That’s exactly what they did to bring us to OT,” Schmitz said. 

Helping in that effort was Liljegren, who despite not finding the back of the net Saturday, was able to find other ways to be productive and get her teammates involved. 

The Lindenwood University-committ tallied three assists and is up to a team-high 10 to go along with 19 points. She’s a conduit distributing the ball to a well-rounded attack.

“Tori’s a very well-rounded player,” Schmitz said. “For example, last night she had four assists, so she puts points on the board whether or not she’s the shooter.” 

Liljegren and teammate Maycie Neubauer teamed up for a goal on Saturday, with Liljegren’s assist helping Neubauer add to her team-leading 16 goals. 

“I think Tori is one of the best leaders on the team,” Neubauer said. “It’s not just like a one-man show with her. She’s always looking for other girls, looking for that assist. If she needs to, she can always just bury it in the back of the net.”

Neubauer finished with a season-high six goals in Saturday’s win, scoring four times in the second half as Stillwater had goal streaks of four and three while controlling possession.

It one-upped her previous season-high from last night’s 15-12 win vs. Cretin-Derham Hall.

Schmitz has set out a tough non-conference schedule. Stillwater has fallen to No. 3 Prior Lake, beat No. 8 Rosemount and awaits No. 1 Lakeville South and No. 5 Edina later this season. 

She noted there was much to take away from facing a team it could see down the road at state. The Ponies took fifth place there last year.

“They definitely broke open our ‘D’ with lots of quick feeds and strong shots,” Schmitz said. “That’s what put us in a little bit of a hole, which we had to correct through communication and body positioning and having our sticks up. Then keeping the pressure on their defensive unit with our attack, continuing to hit the net, move the goalie and put it around her. Taking good shots and good options.

Stillwater erased a five-goal deficit at halftime to win a top 10 matchup 14-13 in overtime at Rosemount on Saturday, April 29. 

The Ponies, ranked No. 6 in the April 24 coaches poll, scored the golden goal with 1 minute, 58 seconds left in overtime off the stick of junior attack Ava Mosely.

Junior midfielder Maycie Neubauer poured in a game-high six goals for Stillwater (5-1).

No. 8 Rosemount (3-2) was led by hat tricks from a sophomore trio of midfielders in Ella Mills, Aubrey Zaun and attack Nessa Carrico. Zaun led the team with four goals.

Sophomore goalie Rio Atkinson totaled five saves for Stillwater, while freshman Rachel Joseph stopped nine shots for Rosemount. 

Rosemount led 11-5 late in the first half before senior attack Ella Fisher scored as the buzzer sounded for halftime. 

The Irish retook a 12-6 lead before the Ponies began their comeback.

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