With eight new players, and what was expected to be a rebuilding season, the Albert Lea U-12B girls&8217; hockey team, sponsored by the Elks, has surpassed every expectation for the season. To date, the team has finished first in District 4, won the District 4 tournament and has qualified as a No. 1 seed for the state tournament by winning the regional tournament in Bloomington this past weekend.

The team faced Tri-City in the first game and came out with a 4-3 overtime victory.

Tri-City put the home team in a hole by scoring three goals to Albert Lea&8217;s one in the first period. Getting the goal for Albert Lea was Natasha Moyer unassisted.

Alexis Gordon helped her team with aggressive play at center ice. Albert Lea would claw its way back with a goal in the second period from Megan Pulley assisted by Anna Anderson, and in the third period from Moyer assisted by Sarah Savelkoul to send the game to overtime.

The sudden life 10 minute overtime had plenty of action with Albert Lea&8217;s defense lead by Kelsey Thomas and Sydney Overgaard keeping the puck away from goalie Sydney Conley for no shots on goal.

Taylor Thompson was aggressive during the overtime period and would get the game-winner on an unassisted shot that slid under the stick of the Tri-City goalie.

Albert Lea next faced Edina for an 8 a.m. game and came away with the victory 5-3. Mariah Leach got the scoring going in the first period assisted by Anderson. Anderson would get the next goal assisted by Pulley and Leach to give Albert Lea a two goal lead going onto the second period.

Samantha Stanley kept the scoring going for Albert Lea in the second period with a strong shot from her defensive position unassisted. Larissa Hacker played a good game at left wing moving the puck up ice to her team mates. Savelkoul started the third by getting a goal just 34 seconds into the period assisted by Leach. Anderson scored the fifth goal assisted by Pulley.

In the third game of the weekend, Albert Lea faced Willmar and lost 7-2.

Christina Schmidt was in goal for Albert Lea having her best game of the season making 29 saves. Albert Lea played tough and was behind only 2-0 going into the third period, but was unable to hold back the aggressive forwards of Willmar. Scoring for Albert Lea were Moyer and Anderson with unassisted goals.

After missing part of the season with an injury, Stephi Falk contributed to Albert Lea&8217;s best efforts during this game and the entire tournament.

In the final game for the tournament championship and No. 1 seed for the state tournament, Albert Lea played Sartell with its rock-solid goalie who faced 49 shots from Albert Lea. Sartell scored the first three goals of the game, holding Albert Lea scoreless until the third period when Anderson would get two power play goals and one even strength goal to send the game into overtime.

Leach, Moyer, Stanley and Mackenzie Waldemar showed excellent skills moving the puck into the offensive zone setting up Anderson for her goals.

During the overtime, Albert Lea outshot Sartell 7-1, and kept the puck in the offensive zone for most of the period. Anderson would get her fourth goal and game-winner at 4:39 of the overtime.

The team will travel to Cloquet during the weekend of March 16 for the U-1 2B state tournament.