By Mike Simmons, Albert Lea Tribune

ST. PETER &8212; The Albert Lea girls&8217; hockey team played its heart out Tuesday night at Gustavus Adolphus College against its I-90 rivals from Austin but came up just short 4-1.

It was the second year in a row that the Packers ended the Tigers&8217; season in the section semifinals.

Albert Lea lost to Austin twice in the regular season 4-1 and 5-2 as the Packers continue a spectacular 23-3 season. But the Tigers seemed to have peaked at just the right time, winning three in a row for only the second time this season, including snapping Marshall&8217;s 12-game win streak to head into the sections.

&8220;This is not what I expected, I expected to win this one,&8221; said Tigers head coach Steve Falk. &8220;I am just absolutely so proud of our girls and how they played all year. It&8217;s just really hard seeing the seniors play for the last time. But take your hats off to Austin they are a big strong team and deserved to win.&8221;

A.L. got outshot in the first period 16-6 and the Packers slipped two of those by goalie Kendra Olchefske for a 2-0 lead after one. Olchefske played a terrific game in goal stopping 28 of 30 shots she faced.

The Tigers played like they expected to win in the second period as they held the Packers scoreless on 10 shots. A.L&8217;s offense stepped it up with eight shots on goal and had a 5-on-3 power play with 8:30 remaining but was unable to capitalize.

This was slowly turning into the type of game A.L. wanted as it entered the third period. The Tigers trailed by just two and held Austin to fewer shots each period while it increased its own shots on goal.

The Packers took a 3-0 lead with just 8:51 left in the third period but still the Tigers would not

quit.

Finally, with 1:31 remaining their hard work and relentless play paid off when Jenna Christensen found the back of the net to draw to within two at 3-1. Christensen was assisted on the Tigers&8217; goal by Madi Passingham and Amy Gackstetter.

With less than a minute to play coach Falk pulled Olchefske out of goal to put another attacker on the ice and with 34 seconds left Austin found the empty net for the three point section 1A semi final win.

With the loss, the Tigers finish a very respectable 15-11-1. Playing their last game for the Tigers were seniors Sarah Jensen, Marisa Cottrell and Olchefske.

Austin 4, Albert Lea 1

Austin2

0

2 – 4

AL

0

0

1 – 1

Scoring Summary (AL only)

Third Period- Jenna Christensen (Madi Passingham, Amy Gackstetter)