Contributions from a pair of seventh-graders on both sides of the ice solidified the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team’s first victory of the season.

Maddie Schneider saved 26 of 28 shots on goal, and Ally Rasmussen scored the go-ahead goal with 7:21 left in the third period to lift the Tigers past Winona 3-2 at Bud King Ice Arena in Winona.

“It was a really exciting game and a nice win for our girls,” said Albert Lea coach Jason Fornwald. “Team effort. I’m proud of them. They’re continuing to come to the rink and get better every day.”

The Tigers (1-4, 1-3 Big Nine) broke the ice 8:55 into the first period with an unassisted goal by Hannah Savelkoul, her first of the season. Savelkoul, a senior, scored 13 goals last season, which was more than twice as many as any other player on the team.

Three minutes later, a goal by Winona’s Sommer Thompson tied the game, and the Winhawks (0-4, 0-4 Big Nine) took a 2-1 lead 34 seconds into the third period on when Dicey Spring found the net.

However, Albert Lea’s Maddy Carstens drilled the equalizer on passes from Rasmussen and Savelkoul with 2:46 left in regulation, and Rasmussen scored the game-winner with an assist from Carstens with about 10 minutes left.

The Winhawks had beaten the Tigers in the last three meetings. Albert Lea’s last win over Winona was a 6-5 victory on Dec. 3, 2013 at Albert Lea City Arena. However, the Tigers showed improvement last year with a 6-0 loss early in the season and a 2-1 loss later in the year.

Next, Albert Lea will play at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Waseca (1-1, 0-0 Big South).

The Bluejays lost their season opener 10-4 at home against Mankato West (2-1, 1-0 Big Nine) and are coming off a 5-4 win Saturday at Minnehaha United (0-2, 0-0 Independent Metro Athletic).