TROJAN GIRLS HOCKEY: Trojans get first win of year

WORTHINGTON — Betsy Thompson scored the games’ only goal as Worthington edged Windom Area 1-0 during a Southwest Conference hockey game Tuesday.

The win for the Trojans (1-13-0 overall, 1-6-0 SWC) snapped a 17-game losing streak, dating back to Worthington’s 4-1 victory at home over Windom Area on Jan. 24, 2012.

“It’s a great feeling to win a hockey game,” said Thompson, a sophomore. “I just don’t know how I can explain it.”

At center ice, Thompson took a pass from Morgan Johnson, skated up the left side and buried the puck in the right corner of the net past Eagles’ goalie Emily Steen at the 10-minute, 20 second mark of the first period.

“I just picked a corner to shoot at and I got a little lucky,” Thompson said.

Before the Trojans could celebrate their first win this season, Worthington had to fight off a Windom Area power-play during the final 1:24 of the game.

The Eagles, who pulled Steen out of the net with a minute left, had no shots on-goal during their 6-on-4 advantage that featured Elizabeth Schoenenberger as the extra attacker.

The Trojans cleared the puck out of their own zone four times while being down two skaters. Morgan Johnson (twice), Allison Kremer and Shelby Veen provided the defense for Worthington.

Windom Area did not convert any of its five power-play chances, while Worthington missed on all three of its opportunities with an extra attacker.

“We blocked the puck and we got in (Windom Area’s) way,” Johnson said. “We did everything we could. I think that was the very best game we have ever played, especially in the second period.”

The Eagles, who outshot the Trojans 19-12 in the game, held a 10-4 advantage in shots in the second period. But the Trojans countered by putting two defenders in front of goalie Amanda Bristow.

Windom Area attackers were forced to skate around the tandems — featuring Johnson, Kremer, Aleanna Heig and Shelby Veen. Bristow made 19 saves for her first shutout of the the season.

“(Amanda) played amazingly,” Johnson said. “She did everything she could. Even if the defense was off, Amanda saved everything.”

In the second period, the Eagles had more than a few chances to tie the game.

Bristow stopped the shot of Jolyssa Higley-Purrington, who used a breakaway to create a Windom Area scoring chance as 15:05 remained in the period.

A little more than a minute later, the Eagles won a faceoff deep in the Worthington zone, where the resulting one-timer clanked off the left-side pipe and bounced away.

“We didn’t have good puck movement in the first period, but the rest of the game we did,” Windom Area coach Dean Drahota said. “We outplayed Worthington, but they scored the only goal.”

The Eagles, who are 1-17-0 overall and 1-7-0 versus the SWC, have lost 12 straight contest after defeating Worthington 5-2 on Dec. 6, 2012, at Windom.

Steen, who stopped 11 of 12 shots, allowed Worthington to grab its one-goal lead on the Trojans’ first shot of the game.

Worthington hosts Waseca at 12 p.m. Saturday, while Windom Area travels to play Fairmont at 7 p.m. Friday.

WORTHINGTON 1,

WINDOM AREA 0

Windom Area 0 0 0 — 0

Worthington 1 0 0 — 1

SCORING SUMMARY

First Period: 1. Worthington, Thompson (Johnson), 6:40. Penalties: Rosenkranz, Windom Area (slashing), 10:13; Rowley, Worthington (interference), 15:11.

Second Period: No scoring. Penalties: Jellema-Berg, Windom Area (cross checking), 9:17; Johnson, Worthington (high sticking), 12:05.

Third Period: No scoring. Penalties: Thompson, Worthington (body checking), 1:32; Kruse, Worthington (slashing), 2:52; Schoenenberger, Windom Area (interference), 7:51; Aljets, Worthington (tripping), 18:36.

Shots On-Goal: Windom Area 7-10-2—19; Worthington 6-4-2—12.

Power-Play Opportunities: Windom Area 0 of 5; Worthington 0 of 3.

Goalies: Windom Area, Steen, 12 shots, 11 saves. Worthington, Bristow, 19 shots, 19 saves

Tags: sports, prep, girls, hockey, trojans, windom