#9 PIRATE GIRLS HOCKEY HAS FOUR DIFFERENT PLAYERS SCORE IN A 4-1 WIN OVER EAST GRAND FORKS

The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Hockey teams scored three times in the first period and ended up with four different players scoring to lead the #9 ranked Pirates to a 4-1 win over the visiting East Grand Forks Green Wave at the Crookston Sports Center.

FIRST PERIOD
East Grand Forks who lost to Crookston 3-0 on December 19 in East Grand Forks, finally found the way past Crookston goalie, Kambelle Freije, when the Green Wave’s Maggey Plante was sent in alone and was able to deke it past Freije on a nice move to give the Green Wave an early 1-0 lead just over four minutes into the game. “It was unfortunate we let that first one,” said Crookston head coach Emily Meyer, “it was a little bit of a breakdown where we gave up an odd man rush and they were able to capitalize.”  A minute and a half later, East Grand Forks would take two penalties 48 seconds apart to give Crookston a five on three power play. The Pirates would capitalize with 13 seconds left in the first penalty when Emma LaPlante gave a pass to Addie Fee, and she spotted Reese Swanson in the slot area and the senior wristed it home to tie it at 1-1. “It was nice to see us score on the power play there,” said Meyer, “we moved the puck around and got Reese an open shot and she made not mistake.” Crookston would not score on the one-man advantage for about a minute. The Pirates did score a couple later goals, the first from eighth grade defenseman, Adley Vigness, who slapped one past the Green Wave goalie, Britlyn Rasmussen, after a pass from Swanson to make it 2-1. Two minutes later, Taylor Field, the Pirate speedy sophomore ripped a shot past Rasmussen to make it 3-1 which was the lead the Pirates took into the first period intermission. “I thought we did a good job of controlling in the offensive zone,” said Meyer, “our passing was very good in setting up our three goals. I think we’re finding some stuff that clicks, all three lines were starting to mesh together, which is a real fun part of it with a lot of puck movement with give and goes and it was really fun to see that.”

SECOND PERIOD
The second period was a lot of action, mainly from the Pirates side continuing to put the pressure on the East Grand Forks defense and goalie. “I thought the second period was our best period in our defensive zone and also on our forecheck,” said Meyer, “we made sure we got the puck out quick and when we were in the offensive zone we put on a lot of passing, numerous shots that were wide, on net or we fanned on a number of chances in front of their net.”  Crookston did score the only goal in the second period, when the Pirates LaPlante was in the far corner in the Green Wave zone, moved toward their net and hit Parker Strand with a pass and Strand sent it right back to LaPlante who put to the near side of Rasmussen to score her sixth goal of the season and halfway through the period and the game, the Pirates led 4-1. With the goal, all three lines scored for Crookston, in a game where the Pirates changed up lines a bit, putting the Field sisters, Taylor and Jocelyen together with Brynley Coleman, Fee was at center with Swanson and Brekken Tull and back off the sick list, Cassie Solheim centered LaPlante and Strand. Kaylie Clauson was back off the sick list and moved back to defense. “We wanted to try this lineup,” said Meyer, “just trying to find more scoring and it was nice to see all of them score and all of them having a number of opportunities.”

THIRD PERIOD
East Grand Forks had a power play to start the third period and when Crookston drew another penalty 1:24 later, the Green Wave had a five on three power play for 36 seconds, but the Pirate penalty kills continues to be on its game, killing them both off and the Pirates have given up only six power plays goals in 57 tries which has the Pirates killing off 90% of their penalties! The Green Wave have a few players that can fly like sophomore Blake Schultz but were held in check by the Pirates at mid ice and in the Crookston zone. “We did let one get away, when Plante capitalized, but we have to make sure we are backchecking and doing everything that we can,” said Meyer. Crookston didn’t capitalize on their aggressive offensive play in the period, putting on eight shots, but Rasmussen was equal to what they threw at her.  “I think we were a little out of sorts in the period,” said Meyer, “we were fanning on passes and shots, a lot of miscommunications, dropping passing pucks when we didn’t have to. I told the girl’s I’d rather see them shoot, then some of that cuteness.”  Crookston outshot East Grand Forks 41-9 in the game.

Crookston is now 14-5-1 on the year and they were supposed to host Dodge County, ranked #4 in the Minnesota Class A polls, on Saturday, but Dodge County informed Crookston this morning that their transportation department would not be sending any buses to Northern Minnesota this weekend! Whether it’s the weather or the competition, it was not known. Dodge County was also supposed to play at Thief River Falls tomorrow night. So, Crookston, who was already one game short, are now two games short of the allotted 25 Minnesota teams can play. “We’ll keep trying to find a game, maybe we can hook up with Thief River Falls for a third time,” said Meyer, “the weather has been so good this winter, that there haven’t been any cancellations and things of that nature.”
It’s tough for a team ranked #9 in the state, 14-5-1 on the year and playing two less games than they can!  East Grand Forks falls to 7-9-2 and will play at Thief River Falls Saturday night in a key Section 8A game for both teams.
JV – Crookston won 4-3

1st Period
4:08 – EGF – Maggey Plante (Sophia Lukach)
7:25 – Crox – Reese Swanson (8) (Addison Fee, Emma LaPlante) (PP)
10:19 – Crox – Adley Vigness (3) (Reese Swanson)
12:20 – Crox – Taylor Field (4) (Brynley Coleman)

2nd Period
8:26 – Crox – Emma LaPlante (6) (Parker Strand)

3rd Period
No Scoring

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