Being from a smaller, outstate community, it’s common for a girls’ hockey team to make a long drive to face an opponent. New Ulm had nearly 100 miles to travel for Friday evening’s matchup against Minnehaha United, but the drive was worth it as the Eagles defeated the United 4-2 to extend their winning streak to eight games and remain undefeated.

“I love coming and playing different teams,” Eagles head coach Kristin Faber said. “Last year was the first year we played Minnehaha. Last year it was a great matchup, and it was a great matchup again this year.” 

Last year’s battle between the two teams was a 4-1 decision won by the United, with Friday’s key players the same game-scorers as last year, too. The United’s Lucie Bond and Ava Wasserman — two of the top point-getters in the state right now — combined for six points in last year’s tilt. On Friday, Wasserman and Bond scored the two United goals, with Bond also assisting on Wasserman’s tally. 

Knowing they were up against some high-scoring players, the Eagles spent extra time working the defensive side of the puck leading up to the game — and that extra work paid off. Leading by one goal going into the third period, the Eagles focused on defense and keeping the puck out of their zone. 

“We worked at practice this week on the defensive zone and how to defend somebody like [Bond] who can take the puck anywhere,” Eagles senior captain Julia Helget said. “We worked a lot on positioning and how to stay defensive.”

At 8-3 prior to Friday’s contest, the United haven’t had a perfect start to the season, but they have been dominating nonetheless. Bond was ranked second throughout the state with 23 goals and 38 points through 11 games, helping the United record nine or more goals in four of those games.

“Their top line has a lot of fire power and can move the puck really well,” Faber said. “They’ve got some good shooters and good speed, and we gave up a lot of good opportunities in the first and second. They’re a good team.”

Faber’s Eagles were able to counteract the United’s high-powered scorers with evenly-distributed scoring of their own, with five players recording points in the 4-2 victory. Helget, who leads the Eagles with 21 points, recorded an assist on the team’s second goal. Brooke Arneson tallied two goals, including the empty-netter to seal the win. The team has five players who are averaging at least one point per game this season.

The chemistry throughout the Eagles’ lineup can be seen on the ice in the way they play, but it hasn’t all been an instant connection. 

“Coming from a small community, we’ve got girls coming from five different schools, so they play against each other in other sports,” Faber said. “It’s cool to see the friendship or family that they create throughout the season. It’s a friendly competition. Last year when our season ended and softball started, they were playing against each other within three weeks of hockey season ending.”

Despite the off-season rivalries between the teammates, the girls have come together to have a successful start to the 2021-22 campaign. The Eagles are now 8-0 and outscoring opponents 53-8 through those games. 

A key component to the Eagles’ win on Friday and throughout the early parts of the season was goaltender Ava Brennan. The freshman has seen the majority of time in net for the Eagles, with a 1.04 goals against average and .922 save percentage this season. 

“Ava hasn’t had a ton of games this season where she’s needed to make so many key saves,” Faber said. “There were a lot of odd-man rushes tonight, a lot of open people in the slot area, and she came up with some huge saves.”

The Eagles have another tough challenge ahead going against No. 4-1A Mound Westonka next week in the middle of a cluster of seven consecutive away games which started with Friday’s victory. Helget looks forward to what the rest of the season will bring. 

“We have a lot of leadership, both from returners who have been here for three or four years and from younger girls who have been on the team since seventh or eighth grade,” Helget said. “We know how to play together, we don’t have selfish players, we like to pass the puck, and have a lot of unity. It’s been a great team effort with a lot of communication.”

The New Ulm Eagles extended their undefeated record this season to 8-0 with a 4-2 victory against Minnehaha United on Friday night at Minnehaha Academy Ice Arena. 

Five Eagles recorded points in the game, led by two goals by junior forward Brooke Arneson. The Eagles got on the board first with a goal by sophomore Michelle Smith 3:19 into the game. Arneson followed with her first of the game just under five minutes later to extend the lead to two goals. Arneson added her second goal on an empty net with six seconds left in the game to seal the win. 

Eagles freshman goaltender Ava Brennan, who entered the game with a 0.90 goals against average and .930 save percentage, made 27 saves to earn her eighth win of the season in net. 

Minnehaha’s Ava Wasserman tallied United’s first goal, assisted by the state’s second leading scorer, Lucie Bond. Bond scored United’s second goal in the final seconds of the second period. United goalie Greta Magnuson recorded 14 saves.

The MN Girls' Hockey Hub poll is for entertainment purposes only.