CROOKSTON GIRL’S HOCKEY STRUGGLES ON POWER PLAY IN LOSS TO GRAND FORKS

The Crookston Pirate Girl’s Hockey squad was unable to capitalize on six powerplays in a 3-2 loss against Grand Forks in a non-Section game played at the Crookston Sports Center.

1st Period –
Crookston controlled most of the play in the first period, but it was Grand Forks that made the most of their limited opportunities. Alexis Laframboise opened the scoring with 8:43 to play in the first period after Shaley Richards cycled the puck to Morgan Stenseth for the centering pass. Shaley Richards got in on the scoring receiving a long pass up the ice from Quinn Fornier and skating the puck along the right-wing before roofing a shot glove side giving the Knight Riders a 2-0 lead. Grand Forks goaltender Kaylee Baker stopped all 10 shots she faced in the first period keeping the visitors ahead 2-0 after one period. “In the first period we were much better than we were yesterday,” said Crookston head coach Tim Moe. “We just couldn’t solve their goaltender. I thought Kailee Magsam played fine, but one of their shots was ridiculously good and we lost a couple of people again in the defensive zone. We had our chances and that’s all you can ask for.”

2nd Period –
The Pirates responded well to their deficit to open the second period before finally finding the net. Crookston failed to capitalize on a powerplay to start the second period, but right after Grand Forks returned to full-strength Morgan Nelson fired a wrist shot from the blue line that was deflected off a Knight Rider into the net trimming the Pirates’ deficit down to 2-1 with 15:03 to play in the period. “I had a pretty good angle on her shot,” explained Moe. “I don’t know if it was redirected but I know their goalie didn’t see it because there was a lot of traffic in front, which was one of the things we talked about with the girls before the game.” Halfway through the second period, MacKenze Epema took a pass from Raina Satrum and fired it high. The shot was headed over the net before it hit the glove of a Grand Forks defender and redirected into the tying the score at 2-2 with 8:47 to play in the period. “That was what we needed,” added Moe. “We needed a little burst to get back to 0-0 and have a chance going into the third period. I’m really happy with how we responded.” Crookston goaltender Kailee Magsam stopped all 4 shots she faced in the second period as the Pirates and Knight Riders went into intermission tied at 2-2. “In the second period we came back and had a lot more success,” added Moe. “It was one of the better periods I’ve seen us play this year. “

3rd Period –
Crookston dominated zone time and scoring chances in the final period, but it was Grand Forks that capitalized on their limited opportunities. With 12:16 to play in the final period, Morgan Stenseth handled a pass from Shaley Richards and fired a shot into the net giving the Knight Riders a 3-2 lead. Crookston had power play and breakaway opportunities late in the game, but Kaylee Baker kept her net clean in the final period as Grand Forks hung on for a 3-2 win. “I think the story of the game for us, what we’re going to take away from this, is how we played defensively,” summarized Moe. “We only gave up 12 shots this afternoon. We were winning races to loose pucks. We were doing all of the things right in the second period, but they might have upped their intensity a bit in the third period. We were close there at the end.”

Crookston falls to 6-9. The Pirates return to the ice on Thursday, January 2 when Crookston hosts Devils Lake at 7 P.M. Grand Forks improves to 5-3.

1st Period
8:43 – GF -Alexis Laframboise (Shaley Richards, Morgan Stenseth)
2:39 – GF – Shaley Richards (Quinn Fornier)

2nd Period
15:03 – CROX – Morgan Nelson (Cassie Solheim, Nora Peterson)
8:47 – CROX – MacKenze Epema (Raina Satrum, Nora Peterson)

3rd Period
12:16 – GF – Morgan Stenseth (Shaley Richards)