WILLMAR -- Two goals in a span of 20 seconds allowed Prairie Centre to post a 3-1 win over Willmar in a non-conference boys hockey game Friday.
The teams played to a scoreless draw after one period of play before the North Stars (4-1-1) netted a power-play goal 12 seconds into the second period. Prairie Centre struck 20 seconds later to take control.
Willmar then put senior Jon Mattison in the net in place of senior goaltender Josh Gesch. Mattison would finish with 11 saves without giving up a goal.
The Cardinals were on the brink of being shut out for the second time this season, but Josh Mead scored in a scramble in front of the Prairie Centre net with just 44 seconds left in the third period. The North Stars had scored about a minute earlier when Willmar pulled Mattison from the net, allowing the visitors to take a 3-0 lead.
Willmar outshot Prairie Centre 37-18. The Cardinals also lost junior forward Matt Odom to an apparent leg injury early in the second period.
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After opening the season with a 9-2 win over Morris/Benson Area, the Cardinals have been outscored 21-6 in their five-game losing streak.
Prairie Centre 3, Willmar 1
Prairie Centre (4-1-1) 0 2 1 -- 3
Willmar (1-5-0) 0 0 1 -- 1
FIRST PERIOD - no scoring
SECOND PERIOD - PC: Travis Moller (Austin Plaine):12 (pp) ... PC: Plaine (unassisted) :32
THIRD PERIOD - PC: Plaine (Moller) 15:10 (empty net) ... Wil: Josh Mead (Jordon Benson, Joel Schendel) 16:16
GOALIE SAVES - Prairie Centre: Marcus Tomsche 8-15-13-36 ... Willmar: Josh Gesch 3-2-*-5, Jon Mattison *-5-6-11
