ST. CLOUD -- Chelsey Wierschem scored five goals, including and empty netter, as the Willmar Cardinals overtook the St. Cloud Icebreakers 7-4 in a Central Lakes Conference girls hockey opener Tuesday night at the Municiple Ice Center.
Willmar trailed 2-1 after the first period, but Wierchem scored twice and Ashley Hutton once for a 4-2 lead after two. Two more goals by Wierschem made it 6-2 in the third before the Icebrekers got two shorthanded goals 48 seconds apart in the eighth minute of the third period.
Willmar goalie Abby Schueller was credited with 35 saves.
Junior Anne Schleper scored three times for St. Cloud and Anna Hall, the team's lone senior, had a goal and an assist.
Taylor Sandberg also scored for Willmar (2-1) and Kelsey Johnson had three assists and Alex Sing two.
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The Icebreakers (0-3) fell earlier to North Wright County 2-1 and Cambridge 5-1.
"It was a really exciting game," said head coach Rick Dahle. "The kids battled hard, blocking a lot of shots with their bodies. They'll be pretty sore."
Seven penalties were called on the Icebreakers and six on Willmar.
Willmar 7, SC Icebreakers 4
Willmar (1-1, 2-1)................... 1 3 3 -- 7
SC Icebreakers (0-1, 0-3)........ 2 0 2 -- 4
FIRST PERIOD - Wil: Taylor Sandberg (Nikki Serbus) 2:13, pp ... SCI: Anne Schleper (Greta Gray,) 14:02, pp .... SCI (Schleper, Gray) 16:00, pp
SECOND PERIOD - Wil: Chelsey Wierschem (Alexandra Sing, Kelsey Johnson) 2:22, pp ... Wil: Wierschem ((Johnson, Sing) 10:05 ... Wil: Ashley Hutton (K. Johnson) 16:31
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THIRD PERIOD - Wil: Wierschem (Sandberg) 5:05 ... Wil: Wierschem (Carlie Freese) 8:39 ... SCI: Schleper (Anna Hall) 8:56, sh ... SCI: Hall (Schleper) 9:44, sh ... Wil: Wierschem (unassisted) 16:34.
Goalie saves - Willmar: Abby Schueller 7-13-17-35; St. Cloud Icebreakers: Emily Kern 3-2-3-8.
