Cheers echoed through the arena yesterday afternoon after the Muskie girls’ hockey team nipped the visiting St. Thomas Aquinas Saints (Kenora) 2-1.
“They needed this win, it boosted them,” noted head coach Pat Dittaro. “The goaltending was great.”
Dittaro stressed the girls learn and grow a little bit each game. “They know what they are capable of now and that they need to take it step by step and everything will come,” he said.
Kim Fowler was able to hold off the Saints during an intense but scoreless first period before Angela Shoemaker took over in goal in the second and third periods.
Carling Barton (assisted by Shannon Koval) netted the lone goal of the second period to put the Muskies up 1-0.
After the Saints tied it early in the third, Carrie Johnson beat goalie Jamie Kurz with just four minutes to go to seal the victory. Thomas Aquinas couldn’t get the equalizer even though they pulled their goalie in the final seconds.
The black-and-gold were coming off a tournament in Dryden where they finished with a 1-3 record.
After opening with a narrow 1-0 loss to Thomas Aquinas, the Muskies were dumped 5-1 by the Kenora Broncos. Danielle McGee (Kristin Kelly) netted their lone goal.
But the team bounced back with a 4-1 win over the host Eagles. Johnson (Carling Barton) and Trista Barker (unassisted) put the Muskies up 2-0 after one.
After a scoreless second period, McGee netted a pair of goals (assisted by Jen Caul and Dana Ward) to put the game out of reach.
Fowler’s shutout bid was spoiled with a fluke goal in the final minute.
“It wasn’t even a good goal,” said Dittaro. “It went off one of our player’s sticks and slid in.”
He noted the Muskies probably will close their inaugural season with only three or four more games.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
