Bria Holm bookended the scoring as part of her three-point night.

“We always talk about having that hunter’s mentality,” Holm said. “We’re kind of that go-getter team.”

Through five games this season, the Spuds are putting up 5.20 goals per game on average. They’ve outscored opponents 26-8.

Last year at the same mark? The Spuds had 10 total goals and a 2-3 record.

“We just couldn’t seem to ever really break that barrier,” Kraft said, who added that he wants his players to compete and go after the puck when they get the opportunity. “I want them to focus on executing. I think that’s the one thing we’re going to keep working on every day all year long, is just execute.”

Kraft called Friday’s game against Wayzata “by far, our best period of hockey of the year.”

Part of that success was scoring three shorthanded goals to bring their season total to four through five games. That total matches the number of shorties they scored all of last season.

“It’s actually kind of funny,” said junior forward Taylor Brueske. “This year, we’ve heard from a lot of people that we play better 4-on-5 than 5-on-5.”

Senior Elle Lebahn scored the first shorthanded goal in the first period, following her own rebound to the opposite circle for a second-chance shot and a 2-0 lead. Only 12 seconds later, Brueske made it 3-0 with her shorthanded goal. She credited her linemate Annie Krieg for getting the puck to the high slot quickly. Brueske finished the night with a pair of assists as well.

“I think the shorthanded goals kind of got the ball rolling tonight,” Brueske said. “Definitely shifted momentum there.”

It did indeed. The Spuds went into the locker room after the first 17 minutes holding a 5-0 cushion against the Trojans (2-4). Sophomore Olivia Kortan added a goal and freshman Haylee Melquist sent the puck through the five-hole with 51.5 seconds left in the period for her first varsity goal.

The Spuds (4-1) also celebrated another milestone. After Holm’s first goal of the game, her assist on Lebahn’s goal gave her 100 career points. The three-year captain and varsity player since eighth grade finished with a three-point night for 101 career points (54-47—101).

“Obviously, super proud of myself,” Holm said. “Good goal accomplished, but I’m always striving for more. So that’s not the end. I’m always hungry for more points.”

Holm leads the team with six goals this season. She recorded 18 goals and a career-best 40 points as a junior and said she’s hoping to reach 50 points this season.

It’s been a good start for Holm and the Spuds early this season, and Brueske said she can see the confidence and momentum carrying from game to game. Most of the team is also back from last year’s heartbreaking section-final loss to Brainerd/Little Falls.

“I just think we have a lot of hungry kids,” Kraft said. “They did not like the way their season ended last year. Losing to Brainerd in that section final, it stung. And they carried it with them all summer in their workouts and all fall. We have a lot of hungry kids that want to have success this year.”