According to coach Mike Miller, there wasn’t a little bit of a revenge factor when the Albert Lea High School girls’ hockey team met Mankato East Thursday night.

Friday, January 04, 2002

According to coach Mike Miller, there wasn’t a little bit of a revenge factor when the Albert Lea High School girls’ hockey team met Mankato East Thursday night.

&uot;There was a lot of revenge factor,&uot; said Miller. &uot;Not just a little.&uot;

And the Tigers extracted theirs, avenging a season-opening loss at Mankato by beating the Cougars 5-3 at the City Arena.

It was also big because it was the Tigers’ first victory over a Mankato team in their five-year existence. Included among the previous nine losses was a 20-0 decision in the Tigers’ second game ever, in which Mankato outshot Albert Lea 60-3.

&uot;This was a must-win game,&uot; said Miller.

But it wasn’t an easy game to win.

The teams were tied 3-3 until the Tigers put it away with a pair of quick goals in the third period. Brittany Arendt scored her second goal of the night at 3:23, assisted by Lindsey Sorenson, and Jasey Porter netted a power-play goal at 5:02 assisted by Arendt and Sorenson.

Laura Hillman opened the second at 4:59 of the first. Tessa Christensen assisted. East tied it at 10:33.

Arendt put the Tigers up 2-1 at 7:30 of the second, scoring on an assist from Porter. East knotted it again at 11:30, Hillman scored at 11:40 and the Cougars again tied it at 12:39.

&uot;We didn’t play our best game the first two periods,&uot; said Miller. &uot;We picked it up in the third period.&uot;

The Tigers outshot East 32-19.

Goalie Danika Porter played a strong game, according to Miller, as did Sarah Jensen and Jasey Porter.

&uot;Sarah played a wonderful game at wing,&uot; said Miller. &uot;Jasey had one of the strongest games I’ve seen her play, and Danika picked up her game in the third period. It was nice to see Brittany put the puck in the net twice. And it was nice to not play our best game and still win.&uot;

The Tigers improved to 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the Big Nine, good for second place.

The junior varsity lost 6-3. Albert Lea goals were by Casey Wangen and Bobbie Jo Attig, with assists by Jerri Mondeel, Anna Sigurdson and Erin Schlarbaum.

The Tigers’ next game is Tuesday at Austin.