FERGUS FALLS -- Ali Sing scored in the last minute of regulation to boost Willmar to a 4-3 win over Fergus Falls to launch the Cardinal girls hockey season on Friday.
Chelsey Wierschem won a faceoff to the side of the Otters' goal, and Jennie Mattison chased the puck into the corner, and then fed Sing coming from behind the net.
"It was a blue-collar goal," said coach Rick Dahle. "We fell behind 2-0 early, but really controlled play the remainder of the game. We battled hard and felt we deserved the win."
Down 2-0, Ashley Hutton and Wierschem scored in the first period for a 2-2 tie. Sarah Hulscher had the only tally of the middle stanza for a 3-2 Willmar lead.
After Fergus tied it at 7:56, Sing got the gamewinner at 16:08.
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Allison Johnson made 19 saves in the Willmar net for the win.
Fergus Falls had lost to Moorhead 5-0 on Tuesday.
Willmar 4, Fergus Falls 3
Willmar (1-0) 2 1 1 -- 4
Fergus Falls (0-2) 2 0 1 -- 3
FIRST PERIOD - FF: Link (Magnuson, Anderson) 6:29 ... FF: Miller (unassisted) 8:24, shorthanded ... Wil: Ashley Hutton (Chelsey Wierschem, Taylor Sandberg) 9:00, powerplay ... Wil: Wierschem (unassisted) 12:15, shorthanded
SECOND PERIOD - Wil: Sarah Hulscher (Meckenzie Dahle) 12:05
THIRD PERIOD -FF: Magnuson (Johnson) 7:56 ... Wil: Ali Sing (Jennie Mattison, Wierschem) 16:08
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GOALIE SAVES - Willmar: Allison Johnson 9-3-7-19 ... Fergus Falls: Hershner 2-8-7-17
