Esse’s Lone Goal Lifts CEC Past Hibbing

Chris Shevich-NSO

For Additional Photos Click Here To View Our Photo Gallery

Click Here For The Complete Game Stat Sheet

Feb 1

Kerry Rodd-NSO

CLOQUET – It was parent’s night for the seniors at Cloquet as the CEC Lumberjacks took on Hibbing/Chisholm in high school girls hockey. The Lumberjacks tossed 38 shots on Blue Jacket goalie Dory Johnson, but only one got past the sophomore as CEC came away with a 1-0 victory.

The Lumberjacks started strong and outshot the Blue Jackets 13-6 in the first period, but it was a hustle play by Melissa Clark and an unbelievable shot by Courtney Esse that eventually gave CEC the lead. Esse picked up the puck in her own zone and steamed down ice into Blue Jacket zone with Clark on her left wing in a 2-on-1 against a lone H/C defender. Esse then made a cross ice pass that got away from Clark, but Clark scrambled to pick up the loose puck and shoot it across to Esse who managed to lift a back hand shot up and over the out stretched glove of Johnson and just under the cross bar for a 1-0 lead. The goal by Esse came at 11:15 of the first period and would be the only goal of the game.

The second period action was much the same as the first period, with CEC controlling the tempo of the game and again outshooting the Blue Jackets 13-6 for a two period shot total of 26 to 12. However, the best chance for H/C came on the opening shift of the period when Mia Marturano pounced on a loose puck and tried to loft it over CEC goalie Sarah Gustafson, but the diminutive Jacks goalie managed to flick out her hand and send the puck over the cross bar and out of harms way.

CEC came out strong and again dominated play most of the third period and out shot H/C 12-3 for three period total of 38-15.

Both goaltenders had strong games, but Johnson had to make a variety of fantastic saves to keep her team as close as a goal for the game.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at Kerry@northlandsportsonlin.com