CEC Girls Come Up Short Against Lightning

Chris Shevich-NSO

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Jan 21

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Through one period of the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton versus Grand Rapids/Greenway girls hockey game things were deadlocked in a scoreless tie. However, that all changed early in the second period when Molly Illikainen rammed home a goal to give the Lightning a lead as they marched on to a 4-0 victory over the Jacks.

Molly Illikainen’s goal was the precursor of things to come for the Jacks as she and her sister, Morgan, both scored two goals in helping the Lightning to the win.

After Molly Illikainen’s first goal, which was assisted by Dana Gallop, she scored again at 8:19 of the second period to push the lead to 2-0. Illikainen’s second goal was assisted by Morgan Burns. Morgan Illikainen got into the scoring act with just 29 seconds remaining in the second period when she converted a pass from Johannah Kohorst on the power play making it 3-0.

Grand Rapids/Greenway ended the scoring with another Morgan Illikainen goal at 8:17 of the third period with Molly Illikainen and Gallop providing the assists.

The Lumberjacks struggled to put shots on the Lightning net and finished with just 17 shots for the game, only three of which came in the final period. Meanwhile, CEC goalie Sarah Gustafson was called on to make 31 saves on 35 shots by the Lightning.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com