Austin Packers girls’ hockey rallies to defeat Rochester Mayo 3-2

Kate Holtz scored a pair of goals, her second of the game at 9:25 of the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Austin Packers girls’ hockey team rallied to down Rochester Mayo 3-2 at Riverside Arena Thursday evening.

Mayo jumped out in front 2-0 in the first period with a power play tally by Ellie Roth and a goal from Jaydn Lester at 15:00, but Holtz started the comeback for Austin with a goal at 3:45 of the second period with an assist to Sarah Wangen, and Maci Talamantes’s first goal of the season, an unassisted tally at 2:02 of the third period tied the game at two.  Holtz’s goal at 9:25 was her fifth of the season, and Isikiyah Hemann earned her second assist of the season on what proved to be the game-winner for the Packers, who picked up 36 saves from goaltender Shelby Davidson in facing 38 shots for the win.  Austin fired 23 shots at Spartan goaltender Alivia Haakenen, who made 20 saves in the loss.

Mayo was 1 for 2 in the hockey game on the power play, while Austin did not have a power play chance as the Spartans remained penalty-free for the game.  With the win, their second one-goal win this season over Mayo, the Packers move to 3-0, and they return to the ice in Winona Saturday for a Big 9 Conference game with the Winhawks, with face-off scheduled for 3:15 p.m.