Alexandria girls hockey: Cardinals ice Bemidji, Willmar

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A pair of power play goals by the Cardinals put them over the top as the Alexandria girls’ hockey team shut down Bemidji 4-2 Saturday.

Bemidji had just two penalties in the game, but the Cardinals took advantage as Becca Illies scored on the first-period power play off an assist from Shaneé Herd with less than two minutes remaining on the clock.

“Bemidji broke out with a 2-on-1,” said head coach Andy Shriver. “McKenzie Revering made a perfect defensive play, and then she and partner, Shaneé Herd, worked a breakout to Shelby [Iverson], who got it to Becca, who hit her trademark top shelf scoring shot.”

That score came after Taylor Ellingson scored on a pass from Herd and gave Alexandria a two-goal lead that held up through the remainder of the game.

Alexandria got its second power play goal soon after Bemidji got on the board in the third period as Melissa Drown negated Lumberjack Karleigh Wolkerstorfer’s goal. Drown scored unassisted at the 6:12 mark in the third period.

“Melissa answered quickly, scoring a truly unassisted (her linemates were changing on the fly) power-play goal as she stickhandled around three Lumberjack players and looked up to see the goalie out of position and finished with a blistering wrist shot to put Alex up 3-1,” Shriver explained.

Shelby Iverson then made the score 4-1 as she scored unassisted at 9:02.

Alexandria allowed Bemidji a final goal with 9:22 on the clock, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Cardinals’ lead as Alexandria improved to 14-6-2 overall.

Amy Jost stopped 16 of the 18 shots sent her way for the win.

The Cardinals celebrated Senior Night by honoring Anna Carlsen, Becca Illies, Sara Schmidt, Shelby Iverson, Madi Houska and Shanee Herd.

“All six are good hockey players, but more importantly these girls are impressive young women who have been the nucleus of an extraordinary team of character this season,” said Shriver.

Alexandria will host Fargo South on Friday at 7 p.m.

ALEXANDRIA 4, BEMIDJI 2

BEMIDJI 0 0 2 — 2

ALEXANDRIA 0 2 2 — 4

FIRST PERIOD

No scoring.

SECOND PERIOD

ALEX –Taylor Ellingson (Shaneé Herd) 12:43, ALEX – Becca Illies, pp (Shelby Iverson, McKenzie Revering) 14:44.

THIRD PERIOD

BEM – Karleigh Wolkerstorfer (Kelsey Isaacson, Erin Booth) 4:32, ALEX – Melissa Drown, pp (unassisted) 6:12, ALEX – Shelby Iverson (unassisted) 9:02, BEM – Karlee Tower (Hansen) 9:22.

SHOTS ON GOAL – Bemidji 6-4-8—18, Alexandria 4-8-5—17.

GOALIE SAVES – Emily Frazer, Bemidji, 13; Amy Jost, Alex, 16.

ALEXANDRIA 5, WILLMAR 2

The Alexandria girls’ hockey team controlled things from start to finish in a 5-2 win over Central Lakes Conference rival Willmar last Thursday night.

Alexandria outshot Willmar 15-7 in the first period and had a 3-0 lead to show for it. Anna Carlsen had two of those goals and Hanah Hansen lit the lamp on the other to give their team a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Madi Houska and Becca Illies made sure of that as they each added goals over the final two periods.

That was plenty of offense for Bailey Serum in net. She got the win by stopping 24 of the 26 shots sent her way.

GAME SUMMARY

ALEXANDRIA 3 1 1 – 5

WILLMAR 1 0 1 – 2

SHOTS – Alexandria – 15, 14, 12 – 41; Willmar – 7, 5, 14 – 26

Scoring

FIRST PERIOD – Alexandria – Carlsen (Shelby Iverson, Illies), 5:48; Willmar – Miranda Roelofs (Annie Johnston), 6:03; Alexandria – Hansen (Melissa Drown), 8:19; Alexandria – Carlsen (Iverson, Illies), 10:05

SECOND PERIOD – Alexandria – Houska (Shanee Herd), 11:05

THIRD PERIOD – Alexandria – Illies (Carlsen, Nicole Bertels), 10:06; Willmar – Riley Schneider (Annie Johnston), 13:16

GOALTENDING – Alexandria – Serum – W, 24 saves, 26 shots; Willmar – Madison Sandberg – L, 36 saves, 41 shots

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, cardinals, girls, hockey