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By Jay Austinson

After beating Austin 16-0 at home last Tuesday evening, the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team fell to Owatonna Thursday night, losing 1-3 to the Huskies. Albert Lea’s record fell to 5-1 while Owatonna picked up their first Big 9 win of the year, improving to 1-4 on the season.

The ice was tilted in Albert Lea’s favor to start the first period with the Tigers outshooting the Huskies 7-2 in the opening minutes. Owatonna took advantage of their first power play in the closing minutes of the period, with freshman Brielle Goodnature scoring her first of the season on a pass from senior Morgan Macy.

After a scoreless second period, the Tigers nearly tied the game midway into the third. While on the powerplay, Albert Lea’s Morgan Goskeson was awarded a penalty shot after an Owatonna defender played the puck with her hand in the crease. The sophomore forward tried beating Owatonna goalie Leah Spencer low short side, but Spencer came up with the stop.

The game concluded with the intensity of a playoff game. After pulling goaltender Jayda Moyer with 2 minutes left, Albert Lea put four quick shots on the Owatonna goaltender. The Huskies managed to clear the puck to the neutral zone and an Albert Lea turnover led to an empty net goal for Owatonna’s Anna Mollenhauer with 1:39 remaining. Albert Lea was finally able to capitalize just over a minute later on a slapshot from the point by senior Mika Cichosz, her 14th goal of the season. Juniors Keira Erickson and Hanna Austinson assisted on the play. Owatonna sealed the game with another empty net goal from just outside Albert Lea’s blueline with 9 seconds remaining.

Shots for the game were Albert Lea 30, Owatonna 34. Albert Lea’s Jayda Moyer stopped 31 of the 32 shots she faced.

Shelby Evans recorded her 100th career point Tuesday night against Austin. The senior forward now sits with 62 goals and 41 assists for her career.

The Tigers were slated to travel to Mankato Tuesday to face the Mankato East Cougars at 7:15 p.m. at the Mankato Civic Center. Results were not available as of press time.