Staff
The local under-14 girls’ hockey team struggled at a tournament in Warroad on the weekend against some of the best competition Minnesota had to offer.
The squad opened with a 7-1 loss to Highland Park, then fell to the Roseau Rams—the No.1-ranked team in the state—by a 10-1 score.
The third game of the day Saturday featured good end-to-end action, but the Leafs couldn’t capitalize on their scoring opportunities en route to a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Coon Rapids.
Sunday morning brought fresh legs and another showdown with Coon Rapids. But with the Leafs pressing in the dying minutes, Coon Rapids iced a 4-2 victory with an empty-net marker.
“It was a great learning experience for the girls,” Leafs’ coach Scott Clendenning said. “As the tournament went on, the girls’ nervousness went away and [they] played high-tempo, aggressive hockey.”
Dana Cridland was outstanding in goal for the Leafs, who got goals from Taylor Dixon, Sha-Lynn Smith, Monica Woods, and Alyssa Penner.
Next up for the Leafs will be a rematch with the Rams in Roseau this Saturday (Dec. 20) at 2 p.m.
