OMAHA, Neb. – It took an overtime shootout, but the Watertown Lakers captured the 19UB championship over the weekend at the 2026 Omaha Lady Jr. Lancers Hockey Showcase.
Watertown opened its tournament run Friday with a 5-2 win over Sioux Falls. Emma Schleusner started the Lakers’ scoring with an unassisted goal at 2:27 of the first period. Watertown exploded for four goals in the third period from Nylah Vennelli (13:58), Sloane Allard (8:58), Keagan Stolp (5:25) and Schleusner (1:12). Watertown outshot the Flyers 37-15.
Aleyna Hudson held Cedar Rapids scoreless as Watertown skated past the Roughriders 4-0 in the first game Saturday. Laker goals came from Gracelyn Webb (14:05) and Alyssa Mathews (12:46) in the second period, followed by Emma Schleusner (12:52) and Harper Hendricks (10:01) in the third.
Kira Reppe continued the shutout streak in net as Watertown held off host Omaha 1-0 in Saturday’s second game to punch a ticket to the championship. Reppe stopped all 20 shots on goal. Sloane Allard secured the win, scoring at 12:14 of the third period with assists from Harper Hendricks and Emma Schleusner.
Watertown met Sioux Falls again in the championship game Sunday. The Flyers lit the lamp at 7:01 of the third period to take a 1-0 lead. Harper Hendricks tied the contest 1-1 at 1:12 of the third with an assist from Alyssa Mathews to send the game into overtime. After a scoreless overtime, Watertown’s Gracelyn Webb beat Gretta Klawitter in the shootout to seal the championship.
Watertown girls hockey returns to South Dakota for SDHSHA action Jan. 9 at Mitchell.
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