Austin Packers girls’ hockey a 5-1 winner in Mankato versus the West Scarlets Tuesday evening

The Austin Packers girls’ hockey team was at All Seasons Arena in Mankato Tuesday evening for a Big 9 Conference game versus the West Scarlets, and Kate Holtz tallied three goals for a hat trick, Lexi Stich scored one goal and dished out two assists and goaltender Shelby Davidson continued a strong season with 38 saves as the Packers swept the regular-season series with the Scarlets with a 5-1 win.

Austin jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period with unassisted goals from Lexi Stich at 3:26, Holtz only :17 later at 3:43 and A.J. Barerra on the power play with only :10 to go in the period at 16:50.  West cut the lead to 3-1 with a goal by Caitlin Hvinden at 2:27 of the second period, but Holtz restored Austin’s three-goal lead with a tally at 4:26 with an assist to Stich.  Stich then assisted on Holtz’s third goal of the game for the hat trick at 2:21 of the third period.

The Scarlets outshot the Packers 39-28 in the game, but Davidson was up to the task as she has been all season long with 38 saves in helping Austin to the win.  Sara Olson turned away 23 of the 28 shots she faced for West.  Austin was 1 for 1 on the power play, while Mankato West was 0 for 2.

With the win, Austin moves to 5-3-1 on the season, and the Packers return to the ice at Riverside Arena Thursday night versus the Mankato East/Loyola Cougars, with face-off at 7:15 p.m.