WILLMAR -- Joel Schendel scored the go-ahead goal with 4:33 left in the third period and Willmar went on to defeat Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato 5-3 in boys hockey Saturday.
It brought the Cardinals win total to four, equaling last season's total which included a forfeit win.
For the Dragons (0-12) it was another tough loss -- their fourth in a row by essentially one goal (Willmar's fifth goal was an empty netter).
Schendel, a sophomore right wing, scored 12 seconds after Andy Gilbertson's second goal inside a two-minute span locked the score at 3-all.
The Willmar scoring play started when center Scot Gregg won the face off at center ice.
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"Gregg got it back and (the puck) was dumped deep," said Schendel. "(Josh) Aslesen bounced it around the side boards and I saw it coming and got to it in the middle of the right circle. The top corner was open and I took the shot."
Gregg-Aslesen-Schendel line accounted for three goals, two by Gregg.
"That line was dominating all night," said Willmar coach Reed Larson. "They've been so strong the last couple of games and in practice we put them out first today."
Riche Norris made it 2-1 with his first varsity goal, assisted by linemate Mitch Schneider in the seventh minute of the third period. Gregg scored his second goal 22 ticks later for a 3-1 lead.
Jon Mattison in the Willmar goal had two big saves in a Dragons' power play before Gilbertson buzzed in the tying goal on a slap shot from 45 feet.
Mattison finished with 14 saves while his counterpart, Lucas Johnson had 29.
Assistant Willmar coach Chad Akerson said it was a solid game for the injury-strapped defense. He singled out starters Alex Berghuis and Andy Boersma, rapidly improving sophomore Travis Hanson and forward Danny Swanson, who moved behind the blue line when Adam Schow injured his arm (dislocated radius).
Litchfield/DC, which has several players out, will host Willmar on Jan. 21.
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Willmar 5, Litchfield/DC 3
Litchfield/DC (0-12) 0 1 2 -- 3
Willmar (4-8) 0 1 4 -- 5
FIRST PERIOD - no scoring
SECOND PERIOD - Wil: Scot Gregg (Joel Schindel) 13:18 ... LDC: Zac Johnson (Mike Dvorak) 13:18
THIRD PERIOD - Wil: Richie Norris (Mitch Schneider) 6:25 ... Wil: Gregg (Josh Aslesen) 6:47 ... LDC: Andy Gilbertson (Charlie Hamm) 8:14 ... LDC: Gilbertson (Keaton Danielson), pp ... Wil: Joel Schendel (unassisted) 12:27 ... Wil: Griffin Leitch (Tyler Wahl) 16:22, pp, empty net
Goalie saves - Litchfield/DC: Lucas Johnson 13-9-7-29; Willmar: Jon Mattison 2-6-6-14
NEXT -- Willmar: Tuesday, home vs. Sauk Rapids
