MANKATO &045; The hope of Albert Lea High School girls’ hockey coach Mike Miller was that the Tigers’ level of play in the tough Holiday Cup Tournament would carry over into the Big Nine season.

It did.

The Tigers played what Miller called their most complete game of the season while blasting Mankato East 8-1 at Mankato Friday night. The ALHS girls improved to 10-6 overall and 7-2 in the Big Nine.

“This is the first complete game we have put together &045; three strong periods,” said Miller. “It was by far the best game we have played. The intensity, the effort were there for a full three periods. Before, we’d have little lulls that would last five, six minutes. We didn’t have that tonight.”

They did have plenty of scoring opportunities, firing 34 shots on goal, and they capitalized early and often with three goals in each of the first two periods.

Brittany Arendt started it at 3:55 of the first, skating end-to-end and beating the goaltender with what Miller called an outstanding move. At 7:16, the Tigers’ Laura Hillman got the first of her three goals on an assist from Tessa Christensen.

With Albert Lea on a 5-on-3 advantage, Christine Tubbs found the net at the 10:51 mark. Arendt assisted.

Anna Sigurdson scored unassisted at 4:19 of the second.

“It was a bullet,” said Miller. “A great wrist shot from the high slot.”

Hillman made it 5-0 at 7:35, assisted by Arendt, and Christensen netted an unassisted breakaway goal at 12:06.

Heather Bagley, assisted by Sara Jensen, scored 59 seconds into the third period and, at 6:22, Hillman made it 8-0 with assists going to Jensen and Tubbs.

The Cougars, who put 18 shots on Albert Lea goalie Danika Porter, scored at 8:23 of the third.

Each team had two penalties.

Miller said Arendt, Tubbs and Frances O’Donnell led an outstanding defensive effort for the Tigers.

“And I was happy to see our second line get a couple goals tonight,” said Miller. “I was real happy for Anna and Heather and Sara.”

The junior varsity lost 6-4, falling to 4-6 overall and 4-1 in the Big Nine.

The Tigers’ next game is Tuesday against Austin at the City Arena.