The Pine City Area Girls hockey team hosted Northern Tier on Tuesday night.
As the puck dropped to begin the game the Stars looked to be controlling things in the first couple of minutes. But it didn't take long for the Dragons to quickly turn things in their favor. They heavily out shot the Stars and were pressuring the defense seemingly all period. Near the end of the period the Dragons finally got on the board thanks to Lexa Valvoda, and would go into the first break up 1-0.
The 2nd period really didn't favor either team, both sides did a good job controlling the puck on offense and the defenses along with goaltenders made the blocks and saves necessary to hold the game at 1-0. Just past the midway point of the period the Dragons extended their lead to 2-0, with a goal from Rhiannon Ashworth. She had been a big part of helping her team gain control in the 1st period.
At the start of the third period the Dragons came out looking for the put away goal, but the Stars continued to fight hard to keep the puck out of their defensive zone and try and get on the board themselves. They came close very close a few times but there was no getting past the Dragon goaltender Sophia Olson. Pine City's offense was able to keep pressure on the Stars defense and Lexa Valvoda added another goal off a rebound shot to extend their lead 3-0. Late in the period senior Lena Roubinek added an empty net goal to put the final stamp on the game and secure the win. But there was still a couple minutes left and the Dragon defense was striving to preserve the shutout for their goalie Olson. Northern Tier put all the pressure on the Dragons defense but couldn't get a shot into the back of the net and the shutout was completed!
The Dragons improve to 7-3-1 on the season and will play in Cloquet against the Lumberjacks on Thursday.
The loss gives Northern Tier a 6-4 record and they'll shift their focus to Thursday where they'll host Osseo at the East Bethel Ice Arena.
