ALHS girls stifled in semifinals
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 13, 2002
ST.
Wednesday, February 13, 2002
ST. PETER – In the seeding for the Section 1A Girls’ Hockey Tournament, the difference between the Albert Lea Tigers and New Ulm Eagles was very slim.
It was the same way when the teams met in the semifinals Tuesday night. But this time it went the other way.
The second-seeded Tigers saw their season end with a frustrating 3-2 loss to No. 3 New Ulm at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.
The Tigers lost despite outshooting the Eagles 30-18, including 9-0 to start the game. Albert Lea also had numerous opportunities to tie it in the final minutes.
&uot;We threw everything and the kitchen sink at them in the third period,&uot; said Tigers coach Mike Miller. &uot;New Ulm’s third goal was huge. That was the difference. Our girls played hard, and you can’t expect much more than that. New Ulm kept their composure in the third period; they bent but didn’t break.&uot;
That was the case most of the night for New Ulm’s junior goalie Jenny Neveln, who shut out the Tigers through two periods.
The Eagles’ first shot didn’t come until midway through the first period. It was handled by Danika Porter, but the Tigers were called for a hooking penalty and Ashley Dietz scored with 21 seconds left in the power play.
The Tigers picked up where they left off – winning the draw and firing a quick shot on goal – but Neveln was there every time.
Sophomore Danelle Bode put New Ulm up 2-0 at the 12:44 mark.
The Tigers opened the second period on a power play but couldn’t capitalize. New Ulm killed another penalty midway through the period, in which the Tigers outshot the Eagles 5-4.
It remained 2-0 until the 3:51 mark of the third period, when Dietz scored on an assist from Liz Bode.
When the Tigers went on a power play with 8:31 left, coach Mike Miller called time out.
Jasey Porter responded with a wraparound goal at 7:29. Laura Hillman assisted.
About two minutes later Hillman deflected a shot by Brittany Arendt past Neveln.
The Tigers scrambled for the tying goal and came close several times, hitting the pipe at least once, but time ran out on the game and their season.
&uot;It was definitely a thrilling game,&uot; said Miller. &uot;It was probably our most exciting game of the year.&uot;
New Ulm takes a record of 18-7-1 into the section title game while the Tigers finish 18-6-1.
Miller said he’s thankful for a great season.
&uot;We were 18-6-1, second in the Big Nine,&uot; said Miller. &uot;I’m not angry about the loss. I’m happy with the season.&uot;