Konietzko’s First Varsity Goal Nets 1-0 Win For CEC

Wes Vork-NSO

Click here for the complete game box score

For additional photos click here to view our complete photo gallery

Jan 23, 2012

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Kristi Konietzko picked a great time to score her first varsity goal and Cloquet-Esko-Carlton continued a torrid streak of solid goaltending as the Lumberjacks took a 1-0 shutout victory over Proctor-Hermantown on the road in girls hockey on Monday night.

The Lumberjacks have the luxury of starting two top-notch goaltenders again this season in Katie Beckman and Alyssa Acheson. Of late Beckman has seen all of the action due to a hamstring injury that has put Acheson on the sideline. On Monday Acheson returned and had the shutout through two periods prior to tweaking the injury, which allowed Beckman to come in cold off the bench and slam the door for the sixth shutout win of the season for the Jacks.

“It’s nice, not just to have two goalies, but two goalies good that you can shove into the game at any time, it’s definitely a bonus for us,” explained CEC Head Coach Mike Bushey after the game. “If I were a goalie it would be nerve wracking for me, but don’t think they think that way,” Coach Bushey stated about Beckman having to come off the bench cold to start the third period of a 1-0 game. “They’re a different breed and I think they kind of like that, she came in and played well.”

The only goal of the game came at 10:58 of the second period when defenseman Konietzko scored from Cassandra Inman and Megan Nelson. “She was pretty excited and the other girls were happy for her also. When your first varsity goal is a game winner, you can’t complain about that,” Stated Coach Bushey.

Earlier this season the Jacks beat the Mirage by a 4-0 score and dominated them all over the ice. On Monday night it was a different story as the Mirage gave the Jacks all they could handle. For the record the Lumberjacks outshot the Mirage by just a 24-20 margin.

“This is two really good games in a row.” Proctor-Hermantown Head Coach Glen Gilderman stated of his young Mirage team; whose goal was to just keep getting better with each game all season. “We just played Hibbing, who outshot us 40 something to the teens and beat us 2-1 in overtime then on Thursday we outshot them by a bit and won 3-1; so that’s progress. This game is the same thing,” stated Coach Gilderman. In the season’s first meeting with the Lumberjacks, Proctor-Hermantown was outshot 43-16 and lost 4-0. “Obviously you would like to come out with a win, but we can sure talk about progress.”

The Mirage, who also rotates a duo of superb netminders, also had some fine goaltending when Kylie Hommerding made 23 saves on 24 shots in the home loss.

CEC’s win pushes their record to 10-11-1 overall and 5-0 in the Lake Superior Conference.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com