Albert Lea girls’ hockey team beats Owatonna for 1st time in 15 years

Published 9:04 pm Friday, December 1, 2023

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It has been over 15 years since the Albert Lea Tigers girls hockey team has beaten Owatonna. That all changed Thursday evening at the Steele Country Fairgrounds as the Tigers roared to a 3-1 victory over the Huskies.

After a scoreless first period, which saw the Tigers dominate play and outshoot Owatonna 12-6, Albert Lea broke things open in the second. Hanna Austinson scored her ninth goal of the season on the power play with an assist from Mika Cichosz at the 7:38 mark of the period. Liley Steven made it 2-0 just 46 seconds later on an assist from Morgan Goskeson.

Owatonna struck first early in the third period on a shorthanded goal, but freshman Sydney Kolker answered for the Tigers with a shot from the point on an assist from Shelby Evans to make the score 3-1.

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Rachel Doppelhammer made 24 saves for Albert Lea, and the Tigers were once again solid on the penalty kill, going 5 for 5. Final shots were 25-24 in favor of Owatonna.

The Tigers are now off until Tuesday, when they travel to Mankato to take on Mankato West. Game time is 7 p.m.