‘This was just a start’: Girls hockey coach reflects on team’s first-ever state tournament appearance
Published 5:32 pm Thursday, February 24, 2022
The Albert Lea girls hockey team stands in a line at the state girls hockey tournament with Albert Lea fans in the background. Provided
Albert Lea's Lucy Stay battles for the puck during Wednesday's state quarterfinal game at the Xcel Energy Center. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Albert Lea goalie Jayda Moyer saved 21-of-23 shots during the Wednesday game. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Liley Steven of Albert Lea plays during the state quarterfinal game Wednesday. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Albert Lea fans watch the game Wednesday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Murtaugh
Albert Lea's Esther Yoon scores a goal in the third period against Proctor-Hermantown in the Minnesota Class A State Girls Hockey Tournament quarterfinals Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center. Photo courtesy Laura Mae Photography
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Though the Albert Lea girls hockey team held Mankato East scoreless through the first and second periods, the Cougars ultimately fought back in the third period to win the game 3-1 Thursday in the Class A consolation semifinal at TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center in St. Paul.
Mankato East’s Jessica Eykyn scored the team’s first goal at 7:06 into the third period, followed by a goal a short 26 seconds later by Albert Lea senior forward Esther Yoon on an assist by Mika Cichosz. Both of the final Mankato East goals came from player Ashley Fischer.
The team battled against Proctor-Hermantown Wednesday, falling 6-2. It was the first time for the Albert Lea girls team to compete in the state tournament since the program’s creation in 1997.
“I thought we played two good games,” said coach Mark Goskeson of the Tigers’ state tournament run. “I don’t think we can ask for any more.”
Goskeson said he was glad Yoon and Lucy Stay, the team two senior captains, were able to be there at the tournament, and he looked forward to seeing the team continue to grow in the coming years.
“Hopefully, this was just a start,” he said. “(The girls) know what it takes to get there, and they know they’re going to have to work this much harder to get there.”
Goskeson thanked all the fans who came to support the team at the state games and said they showed a good representation of the community.
Paul Durbahn, activities director, also thanked the community for the support it showed the team.
“It’s been greatly appreciated and it matters a lot to our students,” he said.
He described the trip to state this season as “pretty special,” noting from his perspective it was only a matter of time the team went to state.
It was the second win for the Cougars over the Tigers this season, after the team won 4-1 in a game Dec. 2.
