By Nick Gerhardt
Northfield hasn’t encountered much of a test against conference opponents but Albert Lea provided the best opportunity thus far Saturday at St. Olaf Arena in Northfield.
The Class 2A-No. 7-ranked Raiders prevailed 5-1 over the Tigers but didn’t break the game open until the third period. Northfield (11-0, 6-0 Big 9) got outshot 14-9 in the first period and led 3-1 heading into the third period.
The Raiders have run roughshod through the Big 9 this season, especially lately. Northfield outscored its last three conference opponents 47-1. For the season, Northfield has outscored Big 9 teams 64-4.
“It’s refreshing,” Raiders head coach Paige Haley said. “We appreciate these types of games.”
Class A No. 14-ranked Albert Lea (9-3, 6-1 Big 9) has reached the state tournament the past two consecutive years and has beaten Owatonna and Mankato East this season.
“It was a battle, even though looking at the score 5-1 it’s a larger margin,” Haley said. “It felt physical the whole time and didn’t take anything for granted.”
Ayla Puppe scored three times for Northfield, including twice in the first period. Puppe scored 3 minutes, 38 seconds into the game on an assist from Emerson Garlie. Puppe struck again less than a minute later with a short-handed goal to make it 2-0.
A Raiders turnover in their defensive zone allowed Albert Lea to pounce. Eighth-grader Haley Austinson scored a rebound goal following a shot from ninth-grader Morgan Goskeson to make it 2-1 at the 7:25 mark.
Northfield extended the lead to 3-1 in the second period after Isabelle Stephes knocked in a rebound from a Garlie shot at 5:06 of the period. The Raiders outshot the Tigers 15-4 in the period.
Puppe completed her hat trick with a power-play goal at 1:56 of the third period with an assist from Grace McCoshen to make it 4-1. Garlie connected for a goal of her own with assists from Puppe and Mia Miller at 5:46 of the period.
The Tigers looked like a team on the rise with a top line that features Austinson, an eighth-grader, Hanna Austinson, a sophomore, and Goskenson, a ninth-grader. Albert Lea also has junior Mika Cichosz on the blue line, a Division I recruit for Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Raiders goalie Macy Mueller faced a season-high 32 shots and stopped 31 for her 11th win over the season.
Northfield faces Mankato East Thursday in Northfield.