FAIRMONT — Mankato West freshman forward Penny Gorman proved it right in the first period of the visiting Scarlets’ hockey season opener against Fairmont Area on Friday night.
Gorman and fellow ninth-grader Marea Giesen scored consecutive goals early on, leading the Scarlets to a 4-1 nonleague victory over the Cardinals at Fairmont’s Martin County Arena.
“In the first period, things didn’t go as planned at all, and we were trailed by two (goals).” Fairmont Area head coach Eric Householder said of Mankato West’s 15-5 shooting advantage in the first 17 minutes. “In the second and third period, I thought he managed to hang in there in shots on goal (17-for-19), but he couldn’t close the early deficit,” he said.
“Tonight was our season opener of, ‘Let’s play hard and figure out how our line fits together.’
Gorman, who scored a team-high 15 goals as an eighth-grader in 2022-23, showed off his scoring skills with an assist from Giesen on his first power-play goal. Fairmont Area netminder Ilana Moller blocked Gorman’s first low shot, and the Mankato West freshman flipped her own rebound over Moller’s shoulder at 11:28.
Gorman and Giesen combined to double the Scarlets’ lead with 8:53 left in the opening frame. Giesen took a shot from the left side that was deflected by Mohler, but Gorman hit the putback and hit Twinfinder.
At 13:06 of the second period, Ella Olson appeared to score on a breakaway pass from Gorman, but an injury occurred seconds before the shot was taken and the play was nullified.
But the scoreboard read 11:06, and just before time expired on the Scarlets’ next power play for a 3-0 lead, Anna Olsen scored from left to right off an assist from Marie Zimmerman. Ta.
Senior forward Vera Larson had 10 shots on goal at midfield to help Fairmont Area tie Mankato West with 13 apiece, but the Cardinals still held a three-point lead on the scoreboard. Entered the final frame.
“Kudos to Carissa (Newbill) for scoring a short-handed goal in the third period to stop the Mankato West goaltender from winning a shutout.” said the householder.
Facing a Mankato West power play for the third time, Newbill chased down the spilled puck, made a good move on the left wing, sliced to the right, and ran a right-to-left between Scarlets goaltender Alaina Smith and the left pipe. He hit a liner to score six points at Fairmont Area. 35 people left within the limit.
Tori Tosh then tucked in a backside rebound from Zimmerman’s blocked left side with 1:20 left in regulation time to restore Mankato West’s three-point lead.
“Our lines will change after we spend more time in practice to determine which combinations are most effective.” said the householder. “Ilana did a good job at the net, so we need to throw the puck to the opponent’s net more.”
Moeller made a game-best 30 saves for the Cardinals, and Smith blocked 21 shots on net in the win.
Fairmont Area (0-1) opens Big South Conference play Tuesday night at 7 p.m. against Waseca at Martin County Arena.
Mankato West (1-0) will play Worthington at Mankato’s All Season Arena on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
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Kato Nishi 2-1-1–4
Fairmont 0-0-1–1
Scoring the play
1st period
MW–Penny Gorman (Marea Giesen), PP., 11:28.
MW – Penny Gorman (Marea Giesen), 8:53.
2nd period
MW–Anna Olsen (Marie Zimmerman), PP., 11:06.
3rd period
FA – Carissa Newbill (no assists), SH, 6:35.
MW – Tori Tosh (Marie Zimmerman), 1:20.
Shots on goal: Mankato West 15-13-6–34. Fairmont Area 5-13-4–22.
Saves: Ilana Moller (FA) 30; Alaina Smith (MW) 21.
Penalty: 6 minutes at Fairmont Area 3. Mankato waist 1 for 2 minutes.
Power Play Opportunity: Mankato West 2-on-3. Fairmont Area is 0-1.