ROCHESTER – Coach Mike Miller doesn’t like the idea of losing anytime.

Friday, December 14, 2001

ROCHESTER – Coach Mike Miller doesn’t like the idea of losing anytime.

This time it was particularly unpleasant.

A disputed overtime goal sent Miller’s Albert Lea High School girls’ hockey team to defeat 2-1 at Rochester John Marshall Thursday night.

The game-winning goal, which came 32 seconds into the extra period, was apparently scored after time had been called.

&uot;We were watching from the bench,&uot; said Miller. &uot;The referee blew his whistle, then they called the goal. The video conclusively showed the goal came after the whistle. You hate to lose a game that way. It’s just a bad break.&uot;

The Tigers also had a bad start, according to Miller, giving up a breakaway goal on a defensive turnover at 5:06 of the first period. They also had chances to avoid overtime but couldn’t capitalize on opportunities.

&uot;We came out flat in the first period,&uot; said Miller. &uot;We improved in the second and really took it to them in the third, when we had four or five good scoring opportunities but didn’t put the puck away.&uot;

The Tigers tied it at 13:07 of the second period while on a five-on-three power play. Tessa Christensen scored, with assists going to Lacey Oyer and Laura Hillman.

&uot;We worked the puck around real well,&uot; said Miller. &uot;Tessa was almost on the goal line, scoring on a very tight angle.&uot;

The overtime goal came following a wrap-around shot that the Tigers’ Danika Porter stopped.

&uot;The whistle blew, our girls stopped, and the JM girl just kept hitting at the puck,&uot; said Miller.

&uot;It was an exciting game, a good game to watch,&uot; said Miller. &uot;But it’s a tough to lose.&uot;

The Tigers, 3-3 in the Big Nine and 5-3 overall, host Fairmont Tuesday at 7:30.