Eagles advance to semi-finals

By ANDY ROGERS

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm Eagles girls' hockey team defeated the Austin Packers 2-0 in the Section 1A quarterfinal game Monday.

Junior forward Ashley Dietz scored the Eagles' two goals.

"She came to play," coach Todd Nelson said. "A lot of players came to play today."

The Eagles' defense came to play big time.

They shut down Austin in the first two periods by holding them to just six shots on goal and killed two power plays in the fourth to complete the shut out.

The Eagles played sound defensively "especially in the first period when (Austin) only had two shots on goal," according to Nelson.

But in the third, New Ulm had some scares. The team faced two power plays had goalie Jenny Neveln had seven saves in the third.

"We lost track of our focus a little bit. It got a little scary there in the third," Nelson said.

New Ulm led the shots on goal in every period, with 13 coming in the first.

The first goal came in the first with 4:25 to play in the second. Dietz scored on a rebound shot with Danielle Fischer and Tammy Cordes assisting.

Dietz scored on a wrist shot from the top of the face-off circle for her second at 3:22 into the second period with Fischer and Nikki Nelson assisting.

New Ulm was penalty free in until the third period.

"The 2-0 lead can turn around real quick in hockey," Nelson said.

With 13:15 left in the third, Mary Otis went into the penalty box for hooking, which gave Austin chance. But New Ulm killed it successfully. The Eagles even had more shots on goal than Austin during the power play.

Austin had another opportunity with another New Ulm penalty. Cordes went in the penalty box for roughing, but New Ulm killed it again.

Austin pulled its goalie with a minute left without success.

"Overall I'm happy with the performance,"Nelson said. "We didn't let down at all."

The Eagles will play Albert Lea at 6 p.m tonight at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.

Albert Lea, the No. 2 ranked team in the section, defeated Worthington and Mankato West to get to the semifinals. New Ulm is ranked No. 3. The winner will play in the Section 1A championship game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at GAC.

"We've been stepping it up each game and hopefully we'll step it up a little bit more against Albert Lea," Nelson said.

Although the Eagles outshot Albert Lea in earlier in the season they lost 4-1 at Vogel Arena Nov. 27.