When the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team played 13th-ranked Faribault during the regular season the Tigers lost by four goals the first time and one goal the second time.

The difference — Falcons junior Megan Bergland.

The first game Bergland scored four times, the second game she didn’t score at all. Bergland has been a difference-maker all year for Faribault and was so once again Tuesday in a 5-1 victory over Albert Lea in the Section 1A semifinals in Faribault.

Bergland scored four goals and put the Falcons up 1-0, 44 seconds into the game.

“They just weren’t able to close those gaps down on Bergland,” said Albert Lea head coach Brian Blatti.

The Tigers tallied 25 shots and had nine power-play opportunities in the game, but scored just once when Sophie Jepson cut the game to 4-1 in the second period.

“It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to capitalize on it, but at the same token we gotta find the back of the net,” Blatti said.

The Falcons had 27 shots on goal.

Faribault moves on to face seventh-ranked Red Wing in the section title game. Last year the Wingers finished third at the state tournament.

Faribault 5, Albert Lea 1

Albert Lea 0 1 0 — 1

Faribault 2 2 1 — 5

First Period—1, Faribault, Megan Bergland (Shelby Salmonsen, Katie Dickison), 0:44. 2, Faribault, Bergland (unassisted), 12:33.

Second Period—3, Faribault, Brittany Lackore (Emily Kline, Niki Reineke), 3:51. 4, Faribault, Bergland (Salmonsen, Dickison), 5:31. 5, Albert Lea, Sophie Jepson (unassisted), 15:23.

Third Period—6, Faribault, Bergland (Kallen Knott), 6:59.

Shots on Goal—Albert Lea 10-8-7—25. Faribault 9-16-2—27.

Goalies—Albert Lea, Sydney Conley (27 shots-22 saves). Faribault, Hannah Seltz (25-24).