The Albert Lea girls’ hockey team narrowly avoided a major meltdown Thursday night on the road against Rochester John Marshall.

After climbing to an 8-2 lead in the second period, the Tigers allowed the Rockets to comeback in a momentous charge in the third period to nearly tie the game. However, the Tigers held on in the end to snatch the win, 9-8.

It seemed like the game was going to be a walk in the park for the Tigers at the end of the first period. The Tigers had a comfortable 4-1 lead with goals coming from senior Katelyn Steven, juniors Ally Rasmussen and Alli Dulitz and sophomore Lucy Stay. Dulitz and senior Mia Fjelsta also had assists in the first period.

Right away in the second period, Fjelsta scored a goal assisted by Steven and Dulitz to make it 5-1. The Rockets scored one goal before the Tigers rattled off another three in a two-minute span to make it an 8-2 lead. The three goals were scored by Steven, senior Daysha Luttrell and sophomore Esther Yoon, with assists by Stay, Fjelsta, Dulitz and junior Josie Venem.

John Marshall scored two quick goals before the end of the second to make it 8-4 heading into the third.

The Rockets scored their fifth goal less than a minute into the period and Fjelsta scored for the Tigers at the 2:40 mark. Up 9-5, all the Tigers needed to do was hold on for about 15 more minutes.

John Marshall scored just 10 seconds after the Tigers to climb to within three goals. The Rockets narrowed the lead to two at the 9:50 mark and gave the Tigers a real scare after scoring in the 12th minute to make it a 9-8 game.

Fortunately for the Tigers, they were able to ride out the final six minutes of the game and pick up their ninth win of the season.

The Tigers are 9-12 and will host Worthington/Fulda on Tuesday.