Crookston Pirate Girls Hockey drops defensive battle to EGF

The Crookston Pirate Girls Hockey team’s late surge just barely wasn’t enough, and the East Grand Forks Green Wave were able to hold on for a 2-1 victory over the Pirates at the Grand Forks Civic Center on Tuesday night.

FIRST PERIOD
The Pirates got off to their best start of the early season, applying very quick pressure in the EGF defense with two separate opportunities, but neither could find the back of the net. The Pirates did a good job with passing and puck possession in the first six minutes of the period, but once the Green Wave got their first look, more chances came in spades. After the Green Wave killed a penalty, Sydney McDonald got the puck off a turnover and beat Madi Abrams top shelf, giving the Green Wave a 1-0 lead. Just a minute after that, the Pirates were gifted a 5-on-3 advantage after a tripping and checking penalty, but they did not get a shot on goal, while the Green Wave got 2. However, those were both stopped by Abrams, and the period would end with EGF clinging to a 1-goal lead.

SECOND PERIOD
In the second period, the Pirates once again applied quick pressure on Kvasager, getting two shots in the first two minutes, but the Green Wave goalie successfully stopped them both. The story of the period, and frankly of the game to this point, were penalties, as the middle of the period was rife with them. Two penalties in 4 seconds brought out 4-on-4 hockey for 52 seconds, then another Pirate penalty gave EGF a power play for 1:09, but nothing came to fruition. During that 5-on-4, Christina Hershey had a breakaway shorthanded, but Kvasager made the save. Both goalies would hold firm, as the period ended with the score staying at 1-0, but a late interference call on EGF meant that the Pirates would be on the power play for the first 1:12 of the third period.

THIRD PERIOD
The third period started with a power play for 1:12, but just 17 seconds into it, Blake Schultz took a turnover in neutral ice all the way, scoringn shorthanded to increase the lead to 2-0. The Pirates throughout the game had 9 power plays, varying in time, and they were unsuccessful in their first 8. The offense slowly started to get more chances, as both teams stayed even in shots on goal, and then finally at 12:28, on their 9th and final power play chance, Emma LaPlante put in a rebound to cut the lead down to 2-1. The Piraates had a couple more opportunities a minute later, including a tipped shot by Adley Vigness, but the Green Wave continued to hold the line. Finally, with 3 seconds left, Kinsley Wangan had a breakaway, but the shot was tipped at the last second by Ady Hjelmen, ending the game with the Green Wave winning 2-1.

Crookston drops to 0-3 on the year and will host Moorhead on Thursday night. East Grand Forks improves to 3-2.
J.V. – EGF won 4-0