CEC Loses 2-1 To Duluth Stars

Wes Vork-NSO

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Feb 11

Kerry Rodd-NSO

It is easy to be a gracious winner in sports, but it is extremely difficult to be gracious in defeat. A show of class by Cloquet-Esko-Carlton senior forward Courtney Esse proved to be a tell-all moment of the leadership this senior has provided for her team this season.
The Jacks were bounced from the Section 7AA tournament in the quarterfinal round at home in the Cloquet Area Recreation Center.

Following the Lumberjacks 2-1 loss to the Duluth Northern Stars, Esse skated over to the scorers bench area and found the game puck. Esse then spent a few moments hunting through players to give the puck to Rachel Halligan, who scored the game-winning goal for the Northern Stars. That show of sportsmanship, more-so than the game, proved what athletics in high school is all about.

After a scoreless first period, the Northern Stars took a 1-0 lead at 3:27 of the second period on a stuff shot by Nikki Logergren. At 10:57, it was Halligan making it 2-0 with assists to Rosie Nelson and Emy Albert.
Duluth held that same lead coming out of the second period.

Courtney Esse pulled CEC within 2-1 at 11:18 with assists to Carley Esse and Dalyce Gustafson on the power play, but the Jacks were unable to get anything else by Paige Turner, the Northern Stars goaltender who finished with 30 saves.

Nicole Lund and Sarah Gustafson made a combined 37 saves on 39 shots for the Jacks.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at Kerry@northlandsportsonline.com