ROCHESTER – The Rochester Lourdes Eagles are the defending Class A boys’ hockey runners-up and currently rated No.

Friday, December 07, 2001

ROCHESTER – The Rochester Lourdes Eagles are the defending Class A boys’ hockey runners-up and currently rated No. 2 in the state.

On Thursday, they were too much to handle for the Albert Lea Tigers, handing the locals a 4-1 nonconference loss at Rochester.

All the scoring came in the first period, when the Eagles outshot the Tigers 16-4.

&uot;They just jumped all over us in the first period,&uot; said Tigers coach Roy Nystrom. &uot;We did play better in the second and third.&uot;

But Lourdes was too strong, outshooting the Tigers 38-12 for the night.

&uot;To be able to play a team like this, you’ve got to be able to match up,&uot; said Nystrom. &uot;We weren’t able to match up. Our kids worked hard and gave it all they had, especially in the second and third periods.&uot;

One position where the Tigers matched up well was goalie, where Matt Tubbs played another strong game.

&uot;He played a heck of a game in goal,&uot; said Nystrom. &uot;He’s lost both his starts, but he’s been very solid in goal for us.&uot;

Egan Mattson scored the Tigers’ goal, assisted by James Erickson and Matt Bracker.

Both teams were 0-for-3 on power plays.

&uot;They’re very good,&uot; said Nystrom of Lourdes. &uot;They’ve got some real firepower up front, and they’re pretty solid defensively. We didn’t get a lot of shots on goal or generate a lot of offense.&uot;

The Tigers, 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big Nine, return to conference play Tuesday at Faribault.