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By Jay Austinson

The Tiger girls’ hockey team picked up two more wins this past week, defeating Winona 6-0 last Thursday and New Ulm 6-1 Tuesday night at Roy Nystrom Arena.

Albert Lea improves to 12-3-1 on the season and sits atop the Big 9 standings. The Tigers are currently ranked No. 9 in Class A.

Sophomore Morgan Goskeson got the Tigers rolling early in the first, notching her 13th goal of the season after taking a puck from a New Ulm defender low in the New Ulm zone and beating goaltender Ava Brennan low stick side with a backhand. The Tigers controlled the play in the first but logged nine minutes of penalties in the period. Fortunately for Albert Lea, they possess the state’s fourth best penalty kill as opponents have only scored on the power play five times on 86 attempts (94.2%). The first period ended with the Tigers up 1-0.

New Ulm picked up their only goal of the game early in the second after a breakaway goal by junior Madalynn Olson. The Tigers answered right back as freshman Haley Austinson took a pass from sister Hanna Austinson after crossing the blue line and drove past the New Ulm defender to beat the goaltender with a low backhand shot. Senior defender Mika Cichosz scored her 23rd goal of the year to close out the period, assisting on the play were seniors Maria Clarey and Kalia Register. Cichosz is the state’s second leading scoring defenseman with 23 goals and 14 assists on the year.

The third period finished strong for the Tigers as senior Shelby Evans picked up the fourth Tiger goal on a rebound after a shot from the point by Junior Keira Erickson. Cichosz would get her second of the game just two minutes later after picking up a puck in the neutral zone and rushing past two New Ulm defenders and beating the goaling with a low wrist shot stick side. Junior Calleigh Noble finished off the scoring for Albert Lea, putting home a rebound off a shot from Cichosz. Albert Lea outshot New Ulm 47-22 on the night.

The Tigers currently hold the state’s fourth best goals per game (5.06) and also allow the fourth fewest goals against per game (1.12). They will be back in action Saturday in Red Wing and Tuesday at home for a rematch with Luverne.