WAYZATA &045; The Albert Lea 12-and-under girls’ hockey team finished the 2002-03 season in strong style, winning the Shooting Star Tournament at Wayzata.

The locals opened against a Hopkins team and won 5-1. Scoring goals were Jenna Christensen and Katie Nelson, with two apiece, and Sophia Jepson with one. Christensen and Nelson each had two assists, Morgan Walton and Jacqui Jepson one each. Molly Yokiel was the goalie, with the defense led by Brittany Osmundson and Ashley Larson.

Albert Lea faced the host team in the semifinals and, in a close, physical contest, won 4-1. Amy Gaskstetter opened the scoring with a rebound goal in the first period. Haley Habana assisted. Wayzata tied it five minutes later, but Gaskstetter put the locals back on top for good with another rebound. In the second period, Nelson scored on a Christensen assist and, in the third, Christensen scored on an assist from Nelson. The girls got a strong offensive game from Lauren Draayer, Adison Wangen and Amanda Hanson. On defense, the girls continued to control the puck with Jacqui Jepson and Walton stepping up to support Yokiel in the nets.

In the championship game the girls played another District 4 team in Owatonna, which they had already beaten twice this year. The championship game was no different as the girls dominated 7-1. Christensen led the way with five goals. Also scoring were Nelson and Haley Habana. Nelson had five assists, with one each by Larson, Walton, Gackstetter and Nicole Wilson. Also contributing on offense were Erin Shahan and Wilson. On defense, Osmundson, Jepson, Walton and Larson controlled the puck and kept Owatonna pinned in its own zone. Kelli Hanson was the winning goalie.

The girls had an outstanding year under coaches Mike Gordon, Todd Gackstetter and Ed Pomerson, finishing 33-6-1.