PIRATE GIRLS HOCKEY SHUTS OUT FORT FRANCES 4-0 WITH FOUR SECOND PERIOD GOALS

The Crookston Pirates Girl’s Hockey team has shown a knack for putting shots on goal, 39 at Thief River Falls in a 5-1 win and they  put up  59 in a 10-4 win at Wahpeton-Breckenridge on Monday. The Pirates continued that with 46 shots this afternoon and were able to score four times in the second period to defeat the visiting Fort Frances, Ontario Muskies 4-0 at the Crookston Sports Center.

Crookston pretty much dominated the first period, getting the first 14 shots on goal. Fort Frances got their first shot with 4:15 to go in the period when they had a 5 on 3 power play and in a flurry had four shots, but Pirate goaltender, Kambelle Freije stopped all of them and the two teams ended the period scoreless at 0-0.  It was a penalty filled period with Fort Frances taking four penalties and Crookston had three with Crookston 0-3 on the power play and Fort Frances 0-2 and the Pirates outshot Fort Frances 18-5, but it was still scoreless because of the great play of the Muskies junior goalie, Madison Bliss. “We played pretty well in the first period except not scoring,” said Crookston head coach Emily Meyer, “Their goalie was very good and I think we  were just shooting and not picking spots that might beat her.” The Pirate girl’s knew what they had to do as Brekken Tull said, “we talked between the periods of getting better shots and crashing the net.”

That is exactly what the Pirates did in the second period, coming out with the same type of pressure as they had in the first period, but this time they came out with a plan of getting to the net for scores or rebounds. The Pirates leading goal scorer, Reese Swanson scored her fifth of the season as she was to the right of the Muskies net and received a nifty pass from Addie Fee and one-timer and a Crookston 1-0 lead. Then the Pirates leading scorer with six assists coming into the game, Brekken Tull scored her first goal of the season on a rebound off a Cassie Solheim shot. “It was a big rebound and I happened to be in the right spot and I thought, I better shoot this with an open net and I got it past their goalie,” said Tull.
The Pirates had only one power play goal in nine tries in the first two games, but they had two shorthanded goals coming in. They scored one of each in the last four minutes of the period. Pirate Taylor Field, a freshman with outstanding speed came out of her own zone with the Pirates shorthanded and she ended on a breakaway, got a weak shot on goal, but didn’t stop and got the rebound and tucked it in and Crookston led 3-0. With 28 seconds left in the period, the Pirates Tull would get her second goal on a power play and it was much like her first goal, she was in a gritty area and Fee and Kaylie Clauson got the puck on net and a juicy rebound right to Tull. “It was almost exactly like the first goal,” said Tull, “I was in position and the puck bounced right to me and I shot and scored.” Crookston outshot Fort Frances 17-5 in the period, but did score four times. “We were shooting with a purpose unlike the first period,” said Coach Meyer, “when we get those shots down low, we have to get somebody there to get the rebounds and flip it in. We have to do more of that and get into the gritty areas, it’s like Cassie Solheim says, it’s all about the finish and not the goal. This group is really starting to figure that out and playing as one unit.”

The third period showed that Fort Frances was being wore down by the Pirates speed and fore checking.
Crookston had some good chances, but Madison Briss was tough in goal and was busy in the final period as the Pirates outshot the Muskies 11-1 in the  period with no goals scored and it ended 4-0. Crookston had a couple power play chances but were unable to score, but not because of not passing the puck as they played one of their better games unselfishly, “100%,” said Meyer, “that is what will set us apart from last year, the ability to work together, giving up the puck if your teammate is in a better position and our girl’s are cognizant of that and we have leaders who keep the rest of the team aware of doing that.”
Crookston was 1-5 on the power play, 2-14 on the season and they’ve scored three power play goals. The Pirates have not given up a power play goal this season. “We worked on the special teams for a hour yesterday,” said Meyer, “also for about a half hour the day before, so I think we have it figured out, just execute a little better with the man advantage.”
Crookston is 3-0 and will be at the Ralph Engelstad Girl’s Hockey Classic in Thief River Falls on Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. On Friday they will play West Fargo United at 5:00 PM and it will be West Fargo’s first game of the season and they and Crookston have had some strong games, “Yeah, we like to play them as they are big and physical,” said Meyer. On Saturday morning, 10:00 AM, the Pirates will play Northfield who are 1-2 on the season, losing today to the Blake school (#8 in Class AA) 5-3. The Raiders lost a 3-2 game to Mound-Westonka (ranked #7 in the State Class A polls) and beat Chisago Lakes 6-2.
Crookston is currently ranked #12 in the State Class A Polls while Northfield is ranked #14 in the State Class AA polls.

For comments from Brekken Tull and Coach Emily Meyer click below. 

1st Period
No Scoring

2nd Period
5:55 – CROX – Reese Swanson (5) (Addie Fee)
9:52 – CROX – Brekken Tull (1) (Cassie Solheim, Taylor Field)
12:56 – CROX – Taylor Field (2) unassisted  (SH)
16:32 – CROX – Brekken Tull (2)  (Kaylie Clauson, Addie Fee) (PP)

3rd Period
No Scoring

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