Austin Packer girls’ hockey falls to Albert Lea Thursday evening 10-2

The Austin Packers girls’ hockey team came into their game with Albert Lea in the Big 9 Conference Thursday night at Riverside Arena riding a two-game winning streak, but it was the visiting Tigers snapping that winning streak and then some as they downed Austin 10-2.

The Tigers led 5-0 in the second period before Jordyn McCormack tallied at 11:21 of the period, with an assist to Kate Holtz.  After another Albert Lea goal increased their lead to 6-1 at the end of two, McCormack scored the other Packer goal at 3:45 of the third period, with assists to Holtz and Peyton Squier.  Mia Fjelsta led Albert Lea with three goals and two assists for five points, Katelyn Steven added two goals and two assists, while Esther Yoon and Allison Dulitz each chipped in two goals and one assist.  Austin also lost starting goaltender Kyia Radford Garcia to an injury in the second period, and without a backup, they were forced to place 7th grade wing Anna Bailey between the pipes for the rest of the game.  The Tigers also outshot Austin by a wide margin 37-12.

Austin is now 2-4 overall on the season and 2-4 in the Big 9 Conference, and they are back into action Saturday afternoon in Worthington for their first non-conference game of the season.  Face-off is at 12:45 p.m.