It was a tough spot for any goalie, let alone an eighth-grader in her first varsity start. 

Michelle Klimstra of Rogers had just three defenders in front of her when the Royals started overtime against Tartan on Thursday evening. But the four of them killed off a two-player disadvantage for about a minute and then a one-player deficit for another 40 seconds. 

The Royals -- who also survived a 4-on-6 situation for nearly a minute late in the third period -- emerged with a 2-2 tie against the Titans in their home opener. Klimstra made 27 saves while Tartan's Kaitlyn Rolando rejected 33 shots.

"That was very exciting. It was a lot of fun," said Rogers coach Jim Koltes. "Michelle played fantastic. It was baptism by fire, for sure. She did a great job."

In trio with Klimstra at the outset of overtime was Lauren Mumm, Kelsey Johnston and Tori Noland.

Rogers, after surviving the harrowing 105 seconds to start the overtime, generated several scoring opportunities in the last eight minutes, and had a power play themselves, but couldn't get one past Rolondo.

Tartan actually had its best chance to score while shorthanded. A forward snagged up a loose puck and zeroed in on Klimstra for a point-blank shot but the 13-year-old collapsed on the puck to preserve a 2-2 tie.

The game's most exciting play took place in the last three seconds. Royals had a chance -- but literally a longshot -- to win with an empty-net goal. The Royals had a tripping penalty on a Tartan break with six seconds left. Tartan, with a player advantage already, pulled the goalie. If they won the faceoff they'd have another two-player edge, in front of the net.

Instead, Munn won the faceoff and steered the puck to Johnston, who had open ice and an open net in front of her, albeit a distant open net and very little time. 

The sophomore defender took two strides to blue line and let fly. Suddenly it looked like curling as the puck hurtled down the middle of the ice sheet toward the unprotected goal, all the fans and players and coaches holding their breath. Alas, the pick slid past the net, missing but just a couple inches to the right. 

The two Rogers goals came within 40 seconds, early in the third period. Maddie Lehn lifted the puck over Rolondo's shoulder from about 10 feet away, assisted by Morgan Pierson, at 1:15 for a 1-1 tie, and Alicia Nelson quickly made it 2-1 with a penetration goal assisted by Nikki Erickson and Mumm at 1:54. 

Tara Korf knotted the score with about 10 minutes left. The first Tartan goal was scored by Elyse King Strong in the first period.

Koltes noted that the two-player disadvantages late in regulation and in overtime was "almost unheard-of, because usually in the last two minutes they let the kids play." 

"But hey, the kids did a great job killing off those two penalties," he said. "They worked their butts off. We just packed in there, and told our top kid in the triangle not to stretch out too far, and let them play on the outside, and let our goalie see the puck."

Both teams are now 0-1-1. Rogers was blanked 4-0 in its opener by Totino-Grace.

"The kids are doing what we are asking, but we have played against two really good goaltenders," the coach noted. "This Rolando is a great goalie and so is that Sophie (Borgerding) at Totino-Grace."

Rogers will host Simley on Saturday, 3 p.m.

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