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Defending champion Breck blitzes Luverne early

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 02/19/20, 8:00PM CST

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The Mustangs exploded in the first period, getting hat tricks from Olivia Mobley and Ally Qualley, and cruised to an 8-1 victory.


Breck forward Olivia Mobley (17) slipped the puck between the pads of Luverne Cardinals goaltender Cheyenne Schutz in the first period. Photo: JEFF WHEELER • Jeff.Wheeler@startribune.com

Breck was more than ready. The two-time defending Class 1A champs, top-seeded and ranked No. 1 in the state, had gone nearly a week without a game. All coach Steve Persian had to do was release the bowstring.

The Mustangs scored their first goal just 55 seconds into their quarterfinal game against Luverne, added four more before the first period reached its halfway point and coasted to an 8-1 victory.

Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year Olivia Mobley and linemate Ally Qualley each scored hat tricks in an eight-goal first period, one goal short of a state tournament record for goals in a single period. Freshman forward Ava Lindsey scored the other two.

“The team, all year long, in many cases has had very quick starts,” Persian said. “After four, five days of practice with a day off on Sunday, I think they were ready to get the tournament started.”

First report

Two-time defending champion and top-seeded Breck scored eight goals in the first period -- one shy of a state tournament record for goals in a single period -- then spent the rest of the game working on other parts of its game that did not involve shooting the puck and cruised to an 8-1 victory over Luverne.

Mustangs forwards Oliva Mobley and Ally Qualley each tallied first period hat tricks and Ava Lindsey added the other two goals in a 25-shot first period blitz.

With a commanding lead, Breck refrained from any offensive attacks for the rest of the game, not registering a shot on goal over the last two periods.

Luverne (22-5-1), making its second state tournament appearance, got its lone goal in the third period from sophomore Billi Connell with 3:42 left.

Check back later for more on the game.

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