CROOKSTON GIRL’S HOCKEY SHUTOUT IN TIGHT LOSS AGAINST THIEF RIVER FALLS

The Crookston Pirate Girls Hockey team failed to score for the first time in 13 games in a 1-0 loss against the Thief River Falls Prowlers in a Section 8A game played at the Cardin-Hunt Arena in Red Lake Falls.

1st Period –
The first period saw a combined 12 shots, with both teams generating scoring chances, but neither side managed to find the net in the opening 17 minutes. “Thief River Falls had a couple of chances,” explained Crookston head coach Tim Moe. “(Goaltender) Grace (Koshney) stood tall. We had some chances too. We controlled play for periods of time in their end. We had some opportunities, but their goaltender made the saves she needed to make.”

2nd Period –
Thief River Falls broke through for the game-winning goal with 13:43 to play in the second period when Lexi Huot sent a pass to Bela Nelson, who set up Shelby Breiland for what proved to be the game-winning goal. “I think she just got a puck out in the slot area,” described Moe. “We didn’t take her and (Breiland) did this numerous times tonight because she’s been playing a lot more defense for them. She was able to step into the slot area and show off that shot. She put the shot bar-down, and Grace (Koshney) had no chance to save it. It was just a great hockey player making a great play.”

3rd Period –
Thief River Falls goaltender Gabriella Steele, who did not play in the first meeting against Crookston due to an injury, played healthy in net all night for the Prowlers making 14 saves, including 3 in the final period to close out the 1-0 shutout victory. “They put more pressure on us (in the third period) than we did on them,” added Moe. “We might have run out of gas. We had some kids get dinged up a bit in this game. Kylee Meier didn’t play in the third period, and she’d been playing well up to that point. We didn’t have an answer for them to sustain pressure. We were able to pull the goalie a couple of times in the last 1:30 and had a poke at it or two, but nothing sustainable.” Crookston’s goaltender Grace Koshney had arguably her strongest performance of the net in the opposing net, finishing with 31 saves in a redemptive effort against a team she faced just ten days ago in a 7-5 loss. “She had a great night,” noted Moe. “She bounced back from the last time we faced Thief River Falls and was the best player on the ice tonight. I have to give a lot of credit to (goaltending coach) Nick Biermaier, who came out a couple of times this week to help her get things straightened out. You could tell. She was standing in the net with a lot more confidence and playing like she’s capable of playing.”

Despite the loss, Moe was able to reflect on the progress shown by Crookston against one of the perennial powers in Section 8A, “overall we fought hard, and we competed. This is something we’ve talked about for three years, but every time out we want to get better. The kids have been working hard. They’re taking it upon themselves to get better, and they’re taking the initiative themselves to do the extra stuff to get better. Tonight was just another example of that hard work paying off.”

Crookston falls to 7-12. The Pirates return to the ice on Friday when Crookston hosts Bemidji at 7:30 P.M. Thief River Falls improves to 10-8. 

1st Period
No scoring

2nd Period
13:43 – TRF – Shelby Breiland (Bela Nelson, Lexi Huot)

3rd Period
No scoring