LUVERNE &045;&160;The second seed Albert Lea U-12B girls’ hockey team, sponsored by the Elks, started the district tournament against seventh seed New Ulm Friday night in Luverne.

Albert Lea won the opening game with a score of 13-0 with Sydney Conley in goal recording the shutout.

Three players for Albert Lea had hat tricks, Anna Anderson, Nicole Wilson and Sophia Jepson, with Lauren Draayer getting four goals.

Getting assists were Megan Pulley, Mackenzie Waldemar, Natasha Moyer and Erin Shahan.

Albert Lea next faced third seed Mankato and came out on top 4-1.

Mankato would score first but then be shut down by Conley stopping the next 15 shots.

Albert Lea would not score until the second period when Draayer found the back of the net assisted by Adison Wangen and Jepson.

Draayer would get the next goal on an unassisted breakaway.

Scoring in the third period on a nice pass from Samantha Stanley would be Jepson.

Wangen scored the final goal on a rebound from the shot of

Mackenzie Waldemar.

Albert Lea would take three penalties in a very physical game.

Mariah Leach had a strong game creating many scoring chances but the Mankato goalie was solid in net making 23 saves.

In the championship game, Albert Lea upset No. 1 seed, and unbeaten in the regular season, Owatonna 3-2.

Albert Lea would shock their opponents scoring the first two goals of the game.

Megan Pulley would knock in the rebound for the first goal from the shot of Anderson.

Draayer scored next showing great speed to breakaway from her opponents and beat the Owatonna goalie.

Owatonna would come back with a goal in the second and third periods.

The game remained tied until 9:31 of the third period when Jepson would score the game winner on a quick shot assisted by Wangen and Draayer.

Albert Lea’s defense, led by Waldemar and Natasha Moyer, cleared many rebounds and covered the front of the net not allowing many second shots. Conley had her best game of the season making 27 saves.

The game had end to end action and was very physical with Owatonna taking six penalties to Albert Lea’s three.

The team will travel to Hutchinson March 3-5 as the No. 1 seed to face district 5 in the regional tournament.