Cards dominant in home opener

ABOVE: Fairmont forward Mariel Parish gains the zone in a girl’s hockey game against the South Central Flyers Tuesday night in Fairmont.

FAIRMONT – The Fairmont Cardinals girls hockey team (2-1) showed off an aggressive high tempo attack in its home opener Tuesday night against the South Central Flyers (1-2), securing a 4-1 win courtesy of goalkeeper IIana Moeller and a hat trick by Lauren Bettin.

“Offensively, we worked really hard on the forecheck,” said Fairmont head coach Aaron Haycraft. “Our forechecking was on, and we got a lot of good, clean looks, shots on net. We really put the puck on net, and that was an excellent goaltender that we faced tonight. So a lot of credit goes out to her. She made a lot of big-time saves.”

In addition to a solid performance offensively, senior goaltender Moeller faced 12 shots and saved all but one of them, putting her over the 1000 plus saves mark.

“I think it’s pretty crazy to get 930 in one season,” said Moeller. “But yes, last year it was 930, so I kind of knew it was coming. I’m pretty excited.”

The Cardinals scored early to open the first period just three minutes in as Bettin found the back of the net, assisted by Carly Gustafson. Fairmont took a penalty, giving the Flyers the advantage, but the aggressive penalty kill unit was strong enough to keep the puck out Fairmonts’ net. It was then Fairmonts’ turn with the man advantage, but they were unable to capitalize, ending the opening period up 1-0 and out shooting the Flyers 15-1.

The Flyers jumped on the power play just 15 seconds into the second period, but again ran into the Fairmont penalty killers as the Cardinals managed to keep the Flyers off of the board. The Cardinals gave up another penalty, and rather than just sticking to defense, they began to challenge the Flyers’ goaltender short handed. The Flyers scored their only goal of the night with 10:28 left in the period off the stick of Mckenna Mortensen, assisted by Kaylee Lawson and Saddie Wagner. In the final moments of the period, Madelyn Benson found her way behind the Cardinal defenders, leaving only the goaltender to beat, but Moeller came out to the top of the crease and shut the threat down, keeping the game tied at 1-1.

The third period was where the Cardinals blew up the scoreboard, netting three in the final frame. The Cardinals again found themselves in the penalty box courtesy of a hooking call, but the penalty kill held strong. The Flyers took a two-minute minor for cross checking and this set up another chance for Fairmonts’ power play. The Cardinals were able to tuck one into the back of the net, this time coming from Alexis Haycraft, assisted by Francesca Martin and Kennedy Murphy with 10:13 left in the period. The Cardinals struck again five minutes later off the stick of Bettin, who was assisted by Alexis Haycraft. Wasting no time, the Cardinals put in their fourth goal securing the victory with Bettin completing her hat trick, this time helped by Murphy.

The Cardinals are set to take Windom on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Windom Arena.