Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

The more the girls hockey team wins, the more each week's recap sounds like a pleasantly redundant repeat of what was said before.

Before the New Year arrived, the Rangers were part of the multi-team Schwan Cup, where they ended up taking third place in the White Division, and moving into the No. 10 spot of the metro area rankings.

Their opening game was against Andover on Wednesday, Dec. 27, and Forest Lake was able to lock up a 4-1 win by scoring two goals in the first period, and one each in the second and the third.

It was junior Cassi Carpenter's turn minding the net and she continued to play well -- giving up just one goal on 25 shots.

Senior Alexa Nelson went right on with her goal-scoring ways as she put the Rangers on top early in the first, and then she was followed by Stephanie Haider later in the period for what would be the game-winner.

Junior Kathy Crudo would score in the second, with assists coming from senior Paige Patchin and junior Torri Shelafoe. Soon after, Andover would notch its only goal, but Patchin would bring back the three-goal lead, as well as the final 4-1 score, when she put one in with six minutes left in the third period.

The win set up a contest on Thursday against Irondale, and while Forest Lake was able to get another early lead with a Crudo goal at the start of the game, coming off assists by Shelafoe and Haider, Irondale would come back with three straight goals.

Irondale would get two power-play goals in the first and one at equal strength early in the second, but all the Ranger offense could manage the rest of the way was a power-play goal by Shelafoe in the second period, courtesy of assists by Haider and senior Kate Haglund.

That semifinal loss dropped Forest Lake into the third place game against Mankato West on Friday afternoon. But by judging how Irondale won it all with a 5-1 victory over Shakopee, and the Rangers annihilated Mankato West, 8-1, Forest Lake probably deserved a spot in the finals.

This game was never in doubt as Patchin scored early, and the Rangers scored often.

The second period started with Forest Lake holding a 2-0 lead, and that's when it all fell apart for Mankato West. It seemed as if every shot the Rangers took went in.

Mankato West even tried a change in goal, but that didn't help as Patchin and freshman Charise Kendrick would each score twice in the game, and they were joined by Nelson, Haglund, Shelafoe and Haider.

Racking up assists were Haglund with four, Patchin and Shelafoe with two, and Crudo, junior Briana Gray, sophomore Ashley Grell and Haider chipping in with one each.

The win gave Forest Lake a 12-3-1 record as they wait until Saturday, Jan. 6 before hosting Stillwater at Maroon & Gold Ice Arena. The Rangers defeated the Ponies early in the season, 3-2. After that it's a chance for revenge, when No. 4 ranked Roseville pays a visit. The first place Raiders won 8-1 in their earlier meeting.

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