For the first time since 2009, the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team won its season opener — and it did so with authority.

The Tigers beat Mankato West 5-1 Wednesday on the road at All Seasons Arena.

“It was a good win for us,” said Albert Lea first-year coach Scott Ball. “The girls have been working really hard and doing everything we ask of them.”

The last time Mankato West defeated the Tigers was in 2012, and the teams split games that season. Albert Lea won 3-2 last year.

Hannah Savelkoul scored the first two goals of the game for the Tigers. The first was on a pass from Anna Englin, and the second was unassisted.

The Tigers followed with a pair of goals by Madi Hererra, a ninth-grader, and Englin scored the team’s fifth goal.

Katie Schwarz led Albert Lea in the net. She stopped 33 of 34 shots on goal, and is one of three seniors on the roster with Englin and defenseman Sage Kermes.

“Katie played a heck of a game, and overall we played well,” Ball said.

Ball is the Tigers’ third head coach in the last two seasons. He was hired to lead the program on June 6, he said. Ball took over for Laura Hillman, who started last year as an assistant coach and took over midseason for Paul Willett.

Assistant coaches this season are Jacqui Jepson and Jason Fornwald.

Next, Albert Lea (1-0 overall) will play Saturday at 7 p.m. against Owatonna at the Four Seasons Centre.