Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

Well, that was different. Not necessarily bad, but different.

The girls varsity hockey team ended last week with a 4-3 loss to Cretin-Derham Hall on Saturday, which was preceded by a 2-2 battle with Hastings on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

All things considered, a tie with a Hastings squad that is now 5-1-2, which includes a victory over White Bear Lake, and a one point loss to Cretin, head coach Paul Kendrick was encouraged with how his team executed.

ìI think weíre really playing well at this point in the season,î he said.

In Saturdayís contest, Cretin-Derham (8-1, 4-1) was the only team to score in the first period as Forest Lake managed five shots while the Rangerís Cassi Carpenter was very busy in goal, making 11 saves in the first 17 minutes.

The second period is where the Maroon & Gold Arena seemed to be turned on its side. After junior Miranda Nelson tied the game for Forest Lake with an assist from senior Kyla Lindstrom, Cretin came right back 10 seconds later and reclaimed their one-goal lead. With a little help from Forest Lake, the Raiders wasted little time with their third goal when all of 18 seconds passed before they made it 3-1.

The Rangers joined the rapid-scoring act when junior Kelsey Blum put one in just 24 seconds after Cretinís most recent goal. All told, four goals were scored in less than a minute.

The Raiders continued to set the tone in the final period when they gained another two-goal advantage on a power play at the halfway mark of the third. They held that lead until junior Kathy Crudo took a pass from senior captain Paige Patchin and scored Forest Lakeís last goal with 40 seconds left in the game.

HASTINGS TIE

On Tuesday night, it was the Hastings Raiders who came to town, and even though they were outshot 27-16 on the night, they managed to rally from two goals down and leave with the 2-2 tie.

Kendrick was disappointed with the final score, but loved the way the girls played.

ìI would say, as far as what weíre putting together, that was our most complete game from start to finish,î he said.

Junior Torri Shelafoe opened the scoring at the start of the second period with assists coming from her senior linemates, Alexa Nelson and Kate Haglund. Later in the second, senior captain Stephanie Haider used a pass from Crudo to put Forest Lake up 2-0, as the Rangers totaled 17 shots in the first two periods alone.

With an early season full of close games, Hastings was comfortable hanging around until junior forward Danielle Welch scored twice, six minutes apart, to force the game into overtime.

Forest Lake controlled the extra period with four shots compared to two for Hastings, but neither team was able to score the game-winner.

ìJust a total team effort. I thought we had an outstanding game,î Kendrick said.

This week, the Rangers (6-2-1, 3-2-1) face a busy schedule as they traveled to Park on Tuesday before hosting Duluth East on Thursday, Dec. 14 and Mounds View on Saturday.

ìBig week to see where we stand and what weíre doing,î Kendrick said.

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