Packers drop girls hockey opener
Published 4:12 pm Saturday, November 13, 2010
Austin defender Vanessa Talamantes sends the puck out of the Austin zone during the Packers' season opener against Rochester John Marshall Saturday afternoon at Riverside Arena. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packers played a strong first two periods in their girls hockey opener, but things didn’t go so well in the third period of a 5-1 loss to John Marshall in Riverside Arena Saturday.
The Rockets (2-0 overall, 2-0 Big Nine) didn’t get on the board until the last minute of the second period when Samantha Macken hit a slap shot off the pipe, recovered the puck and knocked in a second attempt.
JM opened the third period by scoring twice in the first three minutes as Macken scored on a put-back and Kelly Bier scored to make it 3-0.
“We’re not in shape,” Austin head coach Denny Bray said. “The team didn’t come in shape and that showed in the Albert Lea scrimmage. There’s a few that are in real great shape, but the team as a whole needs to do more conditioning drills.”
Austin's Ashley Arhart battles with Rochester John Marshall's Laura Fisher during the first period Saturday afternoon at Riverside Arena. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin had a couple of first period opportunities for put-backs, but they couldn’t finish. Carley Grunewald was denied on two breakaways in the second period.
“We had a lot of opportunities. We didn’t hustle on a couple of rebounds and if we scored the first or second goal it could’ve been a different game,” Bray said. “All three lines haven’t skated together so it’s going to take some time for us to get clicking. We’ve got to work on getting our rhythm together.”
The Packers (0-1 overall, 0-1 Big Nine) finally scored with 2:30 left in the game when Justina Talamantes knocked in a slapshot off a Carley Grunewald shot that deflected off the pipe.
It was the first career goal for the freshman defenseman.
“Nobody was on me and all I saw was black jerseys in front of me,” Talamantes said. “I just tried to get it to the net so the forwards could get it, but I guess it just went in.”
JM out-shot Austin 35-19 and the Packers struggled with controlling possession. Austin sophomore goalie Sam LeBarron made 30 saves in net.
“Our forwards were working hard in the offensive zone and then they think their job is done. You’ve got to play the whole ice,” Bray said. “Sam played a great game. She did her job.”
SCORING SUMMARY
JM 0 1 4 — 5
Austin 0 0 1 — 1
First period
No scoring
Second period
(JM) Samantha Macken (Savnnah Seeger) 16:00
Third period
(JM) Macken (Seeger) 2:03
(JM) Kelly Bier (Katie Armstrong) 2:27
(JM) Seeger (Macken) 9:27
(A) Justina Talamantes 14:30
(JM) Marissa Bruesewitz (Andrea Dripps) 16:17
Power plays: Austin — 0-for-0; John Marshall — 0-for-3
Shots: Austin — 19; John Marshall — 35
