WILLMAR -- The Willmar girls gave up two first-period goals, but played Sartell/Sauk Rapids even after that while absorbing a 4-2 loss in Central Lakes Conference hockey on Tuesday.
The Sabres led 3-0 in the middle frame when Willmar closed to 3-2 on goals by Jennie Mattison and Taylor Sandberg. But Sar-tell/Sauk Rapids got the only goal of the third period.
Sartell/Sauk Rapids outshot Willmar, which lost its seventh straight, 41-27 but quality chances were near even at 30-28 for SSR.
Baylie Young stopped 37 shots in the Willmar net.
Nikki Kothenbeutel scored twice for the Sabres.
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"Baylie played very well," said Willmar coach Rick Dahle. "She made some key saves to give us a chance to win.
"Even down 4-2, we felt good and kept pounding the net but we just couldn't get that key goal."
Sartell/SR 4, Willmar 2
Sartell/SR (3-3, 7-6-2) 2 1 1 -- 4
Willmar (1-6, 4-11) 0 2 0 -- 2
FIRST PERIOD - SSR: Mindy Ouren (Kendra Rasmussen), 7:20 ... SRR: Nikki Kothenbeutel (unassisted), 8:23
SECOND PERIOD - SRR: Kothenbeutel (unassisted), 3:44 ... Wil: Jennie Mattison (Sam Thompson), 5:57 ... Wil: Taylor Sandberg (Ashley Hutton), 9:29
THIRD PERIOD - SRR: Abby Lucas (Rasmussen), 12:18
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GOALIE SAVES - Sartell/Sauk Rapids: Erin Deters 5-7-15-27 ... Willmar: Baylie Young 13-11-13-37
