Eagles down Marshall, 5-1

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm hockey team dominated play Tuesday night, cruising to a 5-1 nonconference win over Marshall at Vogel Arena.

Ashley Dietz scored two goals to lead the Eagles (4-2-1), who travel to face St. Peter in a South Central Conference matchup Friday.

"It's still kind of scary that we scored only five goals on 43 shots," coach Todd Nelson said of his squad. "(Marshall) is a very young team, but they play physical in front of the net. We also got some scoring from some new kids tonight which was good to see."

It was evident from the opening minutes that New Ulm held a decided advantage. The Tigers were called for too many skaters on the ice at 3:33 of the first, and Amy Waldner took advantage as she beat goalie Bridget Byrnes at 4:13 on an assist from Danielle Fischer. The Eagles would not trail in the game as Dietz added a goal in the final minute of the opening period on an assist from Tammy Cordes.

"We trying to spread out the scoring and assists ... trying to make a well-rounded team," Nelson said. "The biggest thing we've done so far is to create movement and opportunities -- whether it's passing and then moving or just moving to the open area to receive a pass. It worked well for us tonight."

New Ulm would double the score in the second period, beating Byrnes two more times. Nikki Williams made the score 3-0 at the 5:14 mark with an assist going to defenseman Abby Johnson, and Dietz found the net for the Eagles' second power-play goal of the night, at 10:12 with Cordes picking up another assist.

"We just played a good all-around game," Nelson said. "We were forechecking hard, backchecking hard ... when you can hold a team to three shots on goal that's pretty good."

New Ulm goalie Jenny Neveln stopped two shots through the first two periods before giving way to Shannon Abel, who ended up with no saves in the third. Danelle Bode made the score 5-0 with her goal at the 2:16 mark of the third, on an assist from Jocelyn Janni, before Marshall's Kristy Balko ended the shutout as she beat Abel at the 11:57 mark.

"Things are coming along for us," Nelson said. "We just have to keep it going and keep the intensity up."

MARSHALL 0 0 1--1

NEW ULM 2 2 1--5

FIRST PERIOD

NU-Amy Waldner (Danielle Fischer) 4:13 PP; NU-Ashley Dietz (Tammy Cordes) 14:20.

SECOND PERIOD

NU-Nikki Williams (Abby Johnson) 5:14; NU-Dietz (Cordes) 10:12 PP.

THIRD PERIOD

NU-Danelle Bode (Jocelyn Janni) 2:16; M-Kristy Balko (unassisted) 11:57.

Penalties -- New Ulm 0-for-0, Marshall 4-for-8. Saves -- New Ulm 2 (Jenny Neveln 2, Shannon Abel 0), Marshall 38 (Bridget Byrnes 15-11-12).