An Austin hockey player had a chance to show her former town what it’s missing and she didn’t waste that oppurtunity in the first round of the ninth annual International Paper/Austin Merchants girls hockey tournament at Riverside Arena Monday.

Ashley Arhart, a sophomore forward, scored a career-high four goals and had one assist to trigger an 8-3 win for the Packers (3-6-2 overall), who came into the tourney on a five game losing skid.

“I used to live in Willmar so it’s kind of hard playing them,” Arhart said. “But I really wanted to show them that I improved and I had a little fire in me.”

Two of Arhart’s goals were shorthanded, including a putback off a miss by Catherine Wagner five minutes into the game. Austin went on to take a 4-0 lead in the first period as Wagner slapped in a shot off the post, Carley Grunewald scored on a power play, and Alix Borland floated in a slap shot.

“Me and Wags were just doing real well together today,” Arhart said. “Our first period was our best period and I think we let up a little (later in the game) and got a little too high.”

Austin head coach Denny Bray felt his young team took a big step in the win, but it needs to keep its focus when getting a big lead.

“We played a complete half game. We know there’s more to do and we’re showing improvement each time we take the ice. We’re a young team and it’ll take some time,” Bray said.

While Arhart was doing most of the scoring, Wagner ended up with six assists and two goals.

“It was nice to have someone else put it in the goal instead of just one or two of us,” Wagner said. “(Ashley) played a good game today and hopefully that can carry on for the rest of the season.”

Arhart was glad to share the load with Wagner.

“We don’t want to put all the pressure on Wags. We’ve got to give her a break every once in awhile,” she said.

The win was the first home victory for the Packers this season.

Austin will play Northfield (10-1 overall) Tuesday at Riverside Arena at 1 p.m. Willmar (4-8 overall) will play the loser of that contest Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Riverside.

Willmar 0 1 2 — 3

Austin 4 2 2 — 8

First period

(A) Ashley Arhart (Catherine Wagner) (Shorthanded) 5:18

(A) Wagner (Arhart, Grunewald) 10:17

(A) Carley Grunewald (Wagner, Abby Gallaher) (power play) 12:42

(A) Alix Borland (Wagner) 13:55

Second period

(A) Arhart (Kyli Ellingson, Wagner) 6:01

(W) Chelsey Wierschem (Taylor Sandberg) 9:21

(A) Arhart (Wagner, Ashley Crump) 14:03

Third period

(A) Wagner (Vanessa Talamantes) 2:50

(W) Kayte Cole (Jennie Mattison) 4:55

(A) Arhart (Wagner) 4:55

(W) Samantha Block (Sandberg) :01

Shots: Austin — 39; Willmar — 30

Powerplays: Austin — 2-for-4; Willmar — 0-for-4

TOURNEY RUNDOWN

Northfield 1, Minneapolis Novas 0

Northfield scored the game’s lone goal when Maren Dvorak scored with 1:25 left in the second period to take the victory.

Sam Stark held down the net for Northfield (10-1 overall) as she had 35 saves against a strong attack by the Novas.

Northfield was 0-for-4 on powerplays and the Novas were 0-for-3.

Tartan 2, Simley 0

Kaitlyn Rolonado had a stellar game at goalie for Tartan as she stopped 48 shots by Simley (1-9-1 overall) in the win.

Tartan (5-6 overall) scored in the first period when Marina Frascone scored a powerplay goal on an assist by Tara Korf and Frascone assisted Andrea Heller for a second period goal to make it a 2-0 game.

Tartan attempted 23 shots and was 1-for-1 on powerplays and Simley was 0-for-2 on powerplays.

Albert Lea 2, New Prague 1

The Tigers held off a late rally by the Trojans to hold on to a 2-1 win.

New Prague’s Shannon Meyer knocked in a shot on an assist from Hallie Paschke during a 6-on-4 advantage due to a pulled goalie and a power play with 35 seconds left in the game. Albert Lea’s goalie Kelli Hanson had to make a glove save with six seconds left to preserve the game.

Albert Lea scored two goals in the first period as Katie Nelson scored on an assist from Mariah Leach, and Lauren Klick scored on an assist by Amy Gackstetter.

AL outshot New Prague 32-21. New Prague was 1-for-3 on powerplays and the Tigers had zero powerplays.

Tuesday’s schedule: Willmar vs. Minneapolis Novas, 9 a.m.; Simley vs. New Prague, 11 a.m.; Austin vs. Nortfhield, 1 p.m.; Tartan vs. Albert Lea, 3 p.m.