By Jay Austinson

The Tigers were back on the ice this past week, picking up two more wins to improve to 15-3-1 on the season. Albert Lea currently holds a five-game win streak, winning in shout out fashion in four of the last five. The previous five games saw the Tigers outscore their opponents 32-1.

Last Saturday the Tigers beat a young Red Wing team 17-0. Sophomore Morgan Goskeson picked up her 99th and 100th career goals in the game, including a nice between the legs shot for her 100th. Albert Lea had 11 different goal scorers for the afternoon on 62 shots.

Tuesday was a rematch with Luverne. Albert Lea beat the Cardinals 4-1 in Luverne earlier in the season but Luverne came to Albert Lea riding a 10 game unbeaten streak, good for a No. 15 ranking in Class A. The No. 9 Tigers scored the only goal of the game in the first period as freshman Haley Austinson picked the pocket of a Luverne defenseman behind the Luverne net and drove the puck to the left post, beating the goalie five hole. The Tigers controlled the play for two periods, but penalty trouble kept Luverne in the game in the third. Albert Lea goaltender Jayda Moyer made two stops in the slot in the final minutes, including a breakaway opportunity with less than two minutes left to secure the Tiger victory.

Tuesday was also Senior Night for the Tigers. Eight Tiger seniors will be graduating this year, including: Mika Cichosz, Olivia Ellsworth, Aryah Hansen, Shelby Evans, Kalia Register, Jayda Moyer, Emery Nelson and Maria Clarey. Mika Cichosz (Minnesota State, Mankato), Shelby Evans (St. Scholastica) and Aryah Hansen (University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point) all plan on playing hockey in college.

On Saturday the Tigers shut out a senior heavy Rochester Mayo team. The Spartans were led by senior goaltender Grace Kober, who stopped 37 of 39 shots on the evening. Kober holds a .925 save percentage on the season with four shutouts. Albert Lea tested her all night, managing a single goal each in the first and second periods. Haley Austinson netted her 12th goal of the season, redirecting a shot by defenseman Olivia Ellsworth from the blue line. Cichosz added an insurance goal in the second, blasting a wrist shot on a Tiger powerplay from the top of the circles to make it 2-0. Albert Lea outshot Mayo 39-14 on the evening.

The Tigers play three games at home this week as they take on Winona at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Mankato East at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday and Gentry Academy at 6:30 p.m. Saturday as part of Hockey Day Albert Lea at City Arena.