Since a season-opening setback to preseason section favorite New Ulm, there has been no stopping the Albert Lea High School girls’ hockey team.

Danika Porter, meanwhile, has been stopping almost everything.

Porter registered her third shutout of the season and the Tigers won for the fifth time in a row with a 3-0 triumph over Winona at the City Arena Saturday. Albert Lea improved to 4-0 in the Big Nine, 5-1 overall.

For the first period, Winona’s goalie matched Porter.

&uot;It was the best first period we played all season, but we couldn’t score any goals,&uot; said coach Mike Miller. &uot;Every time we took a shot, Winona’s goalie just seemed to be right there. We didn’t make her move enough. When it came to the third period, the girls took the challenge and put the game away.&uot;

Laura Hillman continued to have the hot hand on offense, scoring two of the Tigers’ goals to give her nine for the season. Brittany Arendt netted the other Albert Lea goal. Tessa Christensen and Christine Tubbs each had an assist. Porter had 14 saves.

&uot;Brittany Arendt played a very good game at defense,&uot; said Miller. &uot;And Danika made her usual one or two great saves like she’s done every game so far this year, to keep us in the lead.&uot;

It was the ninth career shutout for Porter, a freshman.

&uot;It’s a combination of very good skills and very good team defense,&uot; said Miller. &uot;The defense has bailed her out, and she’s bailed the defense out.&uot;

The Albert Lea junior varsity also won, improving its record to 3-0 in the Big Nine and 3-2 overall.

&uot;The JV played extremely well Saturday,&uot; said Miller.

Miller said the real test will come Tuesday, when the Tigers host the defending Big Nine champion Owatonna Huskies and their high-scoring center, Lindsey Macy. They’re 2-0 in the conference and have played a very tough nonconference schedule.

&uot;It should be a fun game,&uot; said Miller. &uot;It will help determine what our shot is for being a contender for the conference championship. It’s going to be an exciting game, no question about that.&uot;