AUSTIN -- The Willmar girls hockey team didn't have that spring in their step Monday in the first round of the Austin Merchants Invite.
Dodge County, however, did. The Panthers -- a cooperative program including schools from Byron, Dover-Eyota, Hayfield, Kasson-Mantorville and Triton -- scored twice in the fifth minute of action and beat the Cardinals, 6-1.
"It seemed like we were a step behind, a lot," said Willmar coach Jason Mayer. "They were winning races to the puck constantly."
Willmar (3-8-1) will play Austin, which lost to Northfield 4-1, in the consolation semifinals at 9 a.m. today.
Dana Rasmussen put Dodge County on the scoreboard with 4:01 gone in the first period, then Emily Mundy gave the Panthers (6-1-1) a 2-0 advantage seven seconds later.
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Alex Sobiech cut the lead in half at 11:02 with assists from Shelby Schneider and Alex Linbo.
But the Panthers turned up the heat in the second period, scoring three goals. Anna Hunter, Dodge County's goalie, shut down the Cardinals in the last two periods.
"We were getting shots on the net, just not quality shots," said Mayer.
Baylie Young was in Willmar's goal for the first two periods, making 14 saves. Madison Sandberg handled the duties in the third, making six saves.
Dodge County 6, Willmar 1
Willmar (3-8-1) 1 0 0 -- 1
Dodge County (5-1-1) 2 3 1 -- 6
FIRST PERIOD - DC: Dana Rasmussen (Darby Dodds, Courtney Kleber) 4:01 ... DC: Emily Mundy (unassisted) 4:08 ... Wil: Alex Sobiech (Shelby Schneider, Alex Linbo) 11:02
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SECOND PERIOD - DC: Dodds (Kleber, Rasmussen) pp, 3:15 ... DC: Rasmussen (Dodds, Kleber) 5:22 ... DC: Emily Gunderson (Mundy) 16:16
THIRD PERIOD - DC: Rasmussen (Dodds) 2:34
GOALIE SAVES - Willmar: Baylie Young 14, Madison Sandberg 6 ... Dodge County: Anna Hunter 26
