Eagle girl skaters advance to Section 1A finals

By ANDY ROGERS

Journal Sports Editor

ST. PETER -- The New Ulm Eagles advanced to the Section 1A finals with a 3-2 win over the Albert Lea Tigers in the semi-finals.

The Eagles will face Farmington who defeated Mankato East 8-1 in the semi-finals at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Gustavus Adolphus College.

New Ulm led the entire game, but the team got a little scare in the third when Albert Lea scored two goals in two minutes to come within one goal.

The key for New Ulm was the attitude the team took after Albert Lea got close.

"We called a timeout right after it was 3-2," Nelson said. "We had to get them refocused and stop playing like chickens with their heads cut off. Luckily there was only a few minutes left in the game at that point but it was enough gain a little confidence back."

The key player for Albert Lea was Laura Hillman who had a hat trick last time the two teams met. Aside from an assist, she was silent.

"She's a phenomenal player," Nelson said. "That was key big key for us."

Albert Lea got the first eight shots on goal, but couldn't get it in the net.

"(Goalie) Jenny (Neveln) played big for us," Nelson said.

New Ulm turned the game back in its favor shooting 9-2 in shots on goal for the rest of the period. New Ulm's Ashley Dietz scored the first of two goals in the waning seconds of a power play on a wrist shot from the far side of the face off circle. She was unassisted.

New Ulm's Danelle Bode scored unassisted as well to increase the lead to 2-0.

The second period could have been disastrous, New Ulm only had four shots on goal. The Tigers had the puck in its control most of the period, but Jenny Neveln and the defense held the Tigers in check.

In the third, Dietz added some insurance. She skated from mid-rink for the score. Liz Bode had the assist. The goal would end up being the game winner as the Tigers got back in the game with half a period left.

Albert Lea didn't get on the board until a power play halfway through the third period whenHillman assisted Jasey Porter to get Albert Lea on the board.

"We kinda lost our head for a little bit for about eight minutes," Nelson said. "You can't do that in playoffs and hopefully that is something that we can correct on Thursday."

Just two minutes later, Albert Lea inched closer with a goal from Brittany Arendt and an assist by Frances O'Donnell.

But that was all Albert Lea could get. They had 14 shots on goal in the period, but Neveln and the defense stopped the rest of the attempts.

"You got to play three full periods; not just two and a half," Nelson said.

New Ulm didn't have a strong night offensively. It had 18 shots on goal, but three went in, which was good enough for the win.

"For some reason we couldn't find the back of the net," Nelson said. "But luckily we put in three, which was the difference tonight."

The Eagles will face the No. 1 ranked team in the section and the No. 7 ranked team in Division I girls hockey by the Associated Press.

"Hopefully we have a good game left in us," Nelson said.

New Ulm lost to Farmington earlier in the season 9-1, but Nelson feels the Eagles have a better game in them.

"We played poorly against them," Nelson said. "Its playoffs. Anything could happen. Hopefully we can get an upset."