LONG PRAIRIE -- Four different players netted a goal for Willmar Friday as the Cardinals clipped Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Wadena-Deer Creek 4-2 in a non-conference girls hockey game.
Jennie Mattison got Willmar (11-9) on the scoreboard first with a goal assisted from Carlie Freese and Ali Sing 11 minutes into the first period. The Blue Devils (6-10) tied it up with 16 seconds left in the period.
"We started out a little slow," said Willmar coach Lee Wierschem. "Our effort wasn't quite there. We justified that in the next two periods."
Erin Sheehan and Ali Sing scored just under three minutes apart early in the second period to take control and after LPGE/WDC got within one early in the third period, Samantha Block netted a power-play goal 53 seconds later to give Willmar another two-goal cushion. Sing's goal was also on the power play.
The Cardinals fired off 23 shots in the final period and finished outshooting the Blue Devils 53-20. Baylie Young made 18 saves to help Willmar win its third straight.
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Willmar is at Alexandria on Tuesday for a girls-boys Central Lakes Conference doubleheader starting at 5:15 p.m. The boys play at 7 p.m.
Willmar 4, LPGE/WDC 2
Willmar (11-9)..................1 2 1 -- 4
LPGE/WDC (6-10)............1 0 1 -- 2
FIRST PERIOD - Wil: Jennie Mattison (Carlie Freese, Ali Sing) 11:02 ... LPGE: Allie Maas (Lea Dykhoff) 16:44
SECOND PERIOD - Wil: Erin Sheehan (unassisted) 2:37 ... Wil: Sing (KyLee Hulscher, Mattison) 5:24 (pp)
THIRD PERIOD - LPGE: Dykhoff (unassisted) 3:33 ... Wil: Samantha Block (Becca Freese) 4:26 (pp)
GOALIE SAVES - Willmar: Baylie Young 18 ... Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Wadena-Deer Creek: Samantha Gorka 49
