MANKATO -- Even though they lost, Tuesday’s season opener for the Worthington Trojans girls hockey team was a decent start, said head coach Chad Nickel.
“I thought it was a very good opening game. The girls really played well. We got the opening jitters out of the way,” he said.
Host Mankato West defeated Worthington by a 5-3 margin, leading the visitors 2-1 at the end of the first period and 4-3 at the end of two. A year ago as the Trojans worked their way toward a 7-16 record, they lost to the Scarlets 10-2 in the first game.
On Tuesday, Worthington got it’s first goal on a power play, with Kessey Aljets putting the puck into the net and Kya Nickel getting credited with an assist. The goal, gushed Coach Nickel, was “textbook.”
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The second goal was scored by Ashton Fogelman assisted by Hannah Barrie and Rosamaria Rodrigues. The third was scored by Kory Nickel with assists by Aljets and Makenna Nickel.
For the game, Mankato West put 35 shots on goal compared to Worthington’s 20. WHS goalkeeper Kaylee Bents, Coach Nickel said, was outstanding.
The Trojans played good defense, too, said the coach, who added that the younger and less experienced skaters seemed to fit right in.
Worthington 1 2 0 -- 3Mankato West 2 2 1 -- 5
