CEC Girls Get Second Straight Impressive Win

Chris Shevich-NSO

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Jan 24

Wes Vork-NSO

CLOQUET – It has been a slow, but steady, build-up for the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls hockey team this season. On Monday night the Jacks defeated Proctor-Hermantown-Marshall 4-2 for their second straight impressive sectional win against a top-tier opponent.

“Although we still have things to work on the kids are getting better,” commented first year CEC coach Mike Bushey. “We have been competitive in almost every game.”

CEC was more than competitive against a good PHM squad, despite falling behind 1-0 just 20 seconds into the game, the Jacks responded with the win.

PHM took the 1-0 lead on a Reilly Fawcett goal with an assist going to Nichole Mathews giving the Mirage the lead. The Jacks fought back just three minutes later on a tip play by Kara Cresap with the assist to Kaitlyn Miller. By the end of the period the Jacks had a 2-1 edge after a tally by Caitlyn Lilly at 12:30 with an assist to Emily Gustafson.

The second period was scoreless, but CEC held an 8-6 edge in shots on goal.

Carley Esse gave CEC a lead of 3-1 when she stole a puck along the wall and then sniped a shot high on the short side past Anja Morris at 9:45 of the third period. At 12:49 PHM pulled to within 3-2 on a goal, by Justina Lindberg, but CEC responded less than a minute later, at 13:42, when Lilly picked up her second goal of the game with Gustafson assisting.

“The fourth goal was a big momentum changer,” explained Bushey. “They had just scored and the momentum was starting to shift after the cut the lead to one.”

CEC outshot the Mirage 25-17 and Katie Beckman played a strong game in the net for the Jacks.

A huge key in the third period was the fact that CEC was able to fore-check the Mirage deep in their own zone which meant that PHM goalie, Morris, was not able to get out of the net for an extra attacker.

PHM Head Coach Glen Gilderman thought his team is coming together quite nicely as the season progresses, but tonight’s performance was a bit sub-par of what the Mirage are capable of. “We have played very well in the last five games and we had times when we had jump in our skates tonight, but not for the whole game.”

As for the playoffs in Section 7? It appears it is anyone’s game, especially with CEC knocking off Grand Rapids/Greenway and PHM tying the Lightning two days earlier. PHM, the defending Section 7aa champions also beat CEC 4-2 in an earlier meeting this year and will play a second game with the Duluth Stars before the seeding meetings.

“Our Section is wide open this year, Elk River should get the one seed and beyond that who knows, any team can beat any other team on a given night,” commented Bushey. Gilderman agreed, explaining. “The exciting thing about the playoffs is any one of six teams can win the section.”

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com