sports

FREIJE HAS ANOTHER GREAT OUTING AS CROOKSTON GIRL’S HOCKEY BEAT CHISAGO LAKES 3-1

December 15, 2023

The Crookston Pirates had two goals by Addie Fee and another by Brynley Coleman to stake goalie Kambelle Freije to a 3-1 lead. She he did the rest in goal, coming up with 29 saves, and the Pirates defeated Chisago Lakes Wildcats in a girl’s hockey game in Chicago Lakes.

In the first meeting ever between the two teams, the #10th ranked team in Minnesota Class A, Crookston Pirates, and the #17 ranked team in Class A, Chisago Lakes both started fast, particularly the Pirates. “The ice was really fast,” said Crookston head coach Emily Meyer, “and the girls really controlled the game right off the bat. We kept in their zone for most of the period, but then they started catching us down low in the offensive zone a couple of times. Then they would control it in our defensive zone when we were tired, so we chased a little, but pretty even in shots in the first period. Crookston did score the first goal of the game when Addie Fee scored just over 12
minutes into the period. “I was in front of the net when Taylor (Field) had a shot that was on net, and I was able to get the rebound and put it right above the goalie’s pad,” said Fee. It gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead. “Ashlyn Bailey who hit Taylor with the pass who found Addie.” said Meyer, “our passing and play in the offensive zone was impressive. These girls had a lot of opportunities.”

The second period started the same, with Crookston controlling play at the start and then the Pirates had some miscommunication in the neutral zone where two Pirates collided, the puck came loose, and Chisago Lakes Lexi Smothers picked it up and ripped a shot at the top of the circle. “Beat Kambelle (Freije) low blocker side just after five minutes and tied the score at 1-1.” said Meyer. Play continued evenly for a time, and then Crookston’s Brynley Coleman struck after the eight-minute mark. “Brynley crashed the net and did what she does best to get a goal,’ said Meyer, “That kid is never afraid to get in the greasy areas. She has had a couple of solid games, she is really selling out, so I’m happy that she gets rewarded for her hard work. Jocelyn Field took the shot, and Brynley got the rebound. That line was really working Chisago Lakes tonight.” Crookston would score another goal with two minutes to go in the period when Fee struck again. It was Fee and Taylor Field coming in on a two-on-one. “Taylor was carrying the puck wide, and I was in the high slot,” said Fee, “she made an amazing pass to me through the two defensemen, and I shot it on the right side.” Crookston would go into the locker room with a 3-1 lead. “It was a beautiful play,” said Meyer, “Tay hit Addie with a perfect pass, and Addie finished it with a shot, beating the goalies glove side. It was a beautiful play by those two.”

Crookston would go into the locker room fired up and excited. “We were pumped up,” said Meyer, “we knew we couldn’t take the foot off the gas. We didn’t just drive five hours to let it slip away, we were going to finish it!” Both teams battled in the third period, and both goalies were up to the task. “The referees let us play a pretty physical game pretty much all night,” said Meyer, that was up until the third period with some questionable calls, but our penalty killers killed them off.” Crookston has not scored a short-handed goal this season, nor have they given up a shorthanded goal. “We had a chance for a couple of shorties,” said Meyer, “With about four minutes left (I think), Chisago Lakes pulled their goalie when we were on a penalty kill, we had it in their zone, but they did a good job of blocking our shots to keep it at 3-1. When they got a penalty with under two minutes to go in the game, we controlled it to come out with the win. It was a great TEAM win. The girls played amazing, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Crookston is now 8-3-1 on the season and will have a Section 8A game on Tuesday at East Grand Forks. “We are going to keep building and get ready to take on East Grand Forks,” said Meyer, “That game is always a fun one!”
Chisago Lakes dropped to 4-4 on the season and had a three-game winning streak going outscoring the opponents 26-3 in those games.
They will host the Breck School on Tuesday.