Austin Packers girls’ hockey felled by Red Wing Thursday evening 5-3

The Austin Packers girls’ hockey team was looking to get back on the winning track versus Red Wing in a Big 9 Conference tilt Thursday evening at Riverside Arena, but a power play goal for the Wingers’ Scout Copeland late in the third period proved to be the difference as the Wingers downed the Packers 5-3.

Red Wing took a 1-0 lead with a goal by Cheyenne Tyler at 5:50 of the first period, but Austin tied the game at one with a goal from Lexi Stich at 12:37, with assists to Isikiyah Hemann and Kate Holtz.  The Wingers retook the lead at 2-1 with a goal from Aftyen Bluhm at 3:15 of the second period, but again the Packers had an answer when Sarah Wangen tallied on the power play with only :32 left in the period with another assist to Holtz.  Red Wing retook the lead at 4:58 of the third period with a goal from Madison Snyder, but Austin came back yet again to tie the game with Wangen scoring her second goal of the game at 7:08 with another assist to Holtz, her third of the game.  The Wingers had the final answer, though, as Copeland’s power play marker at 13:52 put Red Wing in the lead for good at 4-3, and the Wingers added an empty-net goal from Allison Roe for insurance at 16:23 to make the final 5-3.

Red Wing outshot Austin in the game 35-25, and Shelby Davidson turned aside 30 of the 35 shots she faced.  Allie Meyer made 22 saves in facing 25 shots to earn the win between the pipes for the Wingers.  Both teams were whistled for four penalties for eight minutes, and each team was 1 for 4 on the power play.

With the loss, Austin dips to 5-5-1 on the season, and the Packers return to action Saturday afternoon in Albert Lea against the Tigers, with face-off at 7:15 p.m.