LANSING, Mich. -- Five games in the Toyota-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 16U National Championships went to overtime.

The craziness began on Thursday, when the East Coast Wizards beat the Vermont Shamrocks 3-2, with Kailie Matteson scoring the game-winner.

One day later, the Steel City (Penn.) Selects beat the New England Junior Falcons 3-2, with Kate Sramac scoring the clincher. Steel City won another overtime game on Saturday, when Jayda Mears pushed the Selects past the Florida Lady Vipers.

In Sunday’s quarterfinals, the Jr. Falcons topped the Ann Arbor Cougars 2-1 thanks to Taylor Markstei. Later, Team Alaska knocked off the Shamrocks 3-2 in a double overtime as Helenka Brice provided the heroics.

The Shamrocks lost two in OT — no luck of the Irish for that squad this time around it appears.

A Notch on the Belt

Team Alaska coach Shawn Lundgren has an item on his résumé that many at the Toyota-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 16U National Championships might not have: coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level. Lundgren was an assistant coach for the men’s team at the University of Alaska Fairbanks from 2000 to 2006, when the Nanooks were part of the CCHA.

Great Goalies

Team Alaska goalie Gabrielle Gibson led the tournament with five wins. Her only loss was in the championship against the East Coast Wizards. Mikaella Doran and Vika Simons of the Vermont Shamrocks each had two shutouts in the tournament. Brenna Hoar of the New England Junior Falcons was the tournament’s top goal-scorer, registering six in the event.

Low Scores, Close Games

The Florida Lady Vipers struggled to score goals, with only three for the tournament, but two of their losses came by just one goal, including one in overtime. Another team, the Highland Park Falcons, also had a hard time scoring goals, but did gain their lone win in a 2-1 game over the Lady Vipers to open the tournament on Thursday.

Battle of the Falcons

In a battle of the Falcons on Saturday, the New England Junior Falcons bested the Highland Park Falcons 8-1. Taylor Markstein scored three goals, Katelyn Joyal added two goals and two assists and Katherine Neilsen and Tess Bonavita each contributed three assists. Highland Park generated just six shots on New England goalies Alexis Levere and Melissa Marcialis.

Michigan Bragging Rights 

The bragging rights game for Michigan on Friday went to the Ann Arbor Cougars in a 3-2 win over the Livonia Knights. Ann Arbor scored all three of its goals in the second period and held on the rest of the way to pick up the victory. Goaltender Ally Kennedy made 19 saves as the two teams combined for 19 penalties.

West Seneca Scores in Bunches — Sometimes

For the West Seneca Wings, coming to the tournament out of the Buffalo, N.Y., area, the team either scored in bunches or not at all. West Seneca lost to the Vermont Shamrocks 5-0 on Thursday, then beat the Rocky Mountain Lady RoughRiders 4-1 the next day before being bounced from the tournament on Saturday in a 2-1 loss to the Ann Arbor Cougars.

Rocky Mountain Debut 

The Rocky Mountain Lady RoughRiders, coached by former University of North Dakota women’s standout Jordan Slavin, in just their second season of existence, had a good showing in Lansing, but went 0-3 and didn’t make the quarterfinals. Devin Porazinski led the way offensively with four points, while Shana Cote popped three goals. Jacqueline Wachol’s late third-period goal lifted the Livonia Knights past the Lady RoughRiders 5-4 on Thursday.

Triple Titans 

The New Jersey Junior Titans’ trio of Jesse DeVito (three goals, six points), Brianna Haviland (two goals, four points) and Renee Hoffman (two goals, four points) combined for 14 of the team’s 15 points on the weekend. The other point was an assist from Tea Ferrara.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.