Second line steps up for Austin girls hockey team in a win over Falcons
Published 9:57 pm Thursday, November 21, 2013
Teammates mob Lea Semones, right, after her first-period goal against Faribault Thursday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin girls hockey head coach Brett Vesel was looking for more offense out of his second line so he made a slight adjustment in Riverside Arena Thursday.
Vesel moved Austin senior Justina Talamantes, who had played on defense her whole hockey career, to forward and Talamantes delivered with an early goal in the Packers’ 4-1 win over Faribault.
Austin’s Chloe Summerfield cuts back with the puck against Faribault’s Megan Johnstad during the first period Thursday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Talamantes’ score made it 2-0 Austin early in the second period. The Packers (2-2 overall, 1-2 Big Nine) pulled away in the third period when their second line came through as Haley Tigner had her slap shot slip past Faribault’s goalie to make it 3-1.
Talamantes wasn’t sure if she’ll go back to defense or keep playing forward, but her first night at the position was a success.
“We’ve always played pretty tough with Faribault in the past and it was nice to beat them and stay unbeaten at home,” Talamantes said.
Austin started a little slow and it was out-shot 48-34 by the Falcons (1-3 overall, 0-3 Big Nine), but it found its offense when it needed it.
“I think we just noticed that we were playing down to their level,” Talamantes said. “We had to suck it up. We just took shot after shot and we got our confidence up. Rather than playing not to lose, we were playing to win.”
Vesel said the second line gave a much needed boost for the Packers, who had lost their two previous games.
“We want to get a little more offensive pressure and (Justina) is aggressive,” Vesel said. “We haven’t had a lot of offense other than from our first line and our second line scored two goals tonight and that was awesome.”
Lea Semones and Madison Overby also scored goals for the Packers, but it was the goal-tending of Mara Overby that kept Austin in the game.
Mara, a sophomore, stopped 47 shots in the win as she had to make a variety of saves, from high to low and various angles.
“I was into the game right away and I was mentally prepared,” Mara said. “It keeps getting easier every game.”
SCORING SUMMARY
Austin’s Myia Hoium battles with Faribault’s Alex Ferris for the puck during the first period Thrusday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Faribault 0 1 0 — 1
Austin 1 1 2 — 4
First period
(A) Lea Semones (Madison Overby) 15:43
Second period
(A) Justina Talamantes (Haley Tigner) 1:23
(F) Mallory Ward (Lexus Tatge) 7:18
Third period
(A) Tigner 4:47
(A) Overby (power play) (Chloe Summerfield) 5:30
Shots: Austin — 34; Faribault — 48
Power plays: Austin — 1-for-1; Faribault — 0-for-4
