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Strong start to the season for girls’ hockey team

By Jay Austinson

The Albert Lea girls’ hockey team opened the 2024-25 season with a bang Thursday night at Roy Nystrom Arena, beating the Mayo Spartans 3-0.

The Tigers are coming off a second-place finish in the Big 9 last season, finishing the year 18-6-1 after a loss in the Section 1A semifinals to Simley.

The Tigers look to build off of last season and bring back their 10 leading scorers from last year’s group.

Senior Mika Cichosz opened the scoring in the first period at the 5:34 mark. The Minnesota State-Mankato commit rifled a wrist shot from the top of the right circle for her first goal of the year.

The Tigers finished the period on the power play but were held scoreless, finishing the first outshooting the Spartans 15-4.

After outshooting the Spartans 15-6 in the second period, the Tigers once again found the back of the net seconds into the third period after senior Shelby Evans buried a rebound from a shot by Cichosz.

The two paired up again at the end of the third, with Evans burying a one timer from the left dot after a beautiful pass by Cichosz.

Albert Lea finished the game outshooting the Spartans 47-14.

Albert Lea senior goaltender Jayda Moyer was solid all night, finishing the night with her 10th career shutout.

The Tigers hit the road for their second game of the season, traveling to Luverne Tuesday to take on the Cardinals at Blue Mound arena at 7 p.m.