Cloquet-Esko-Carlton has one of the top two schedules in the state in girls hockey this season. This past week the Lady Jacks found out just how difficult their schedule was with road losses to Centennial, Wayzata and Eagan.
"We faced three very good teams and with a bounce here and there we could have as easily won those games," commented coach Dick Bartholdi. "From the losses I think it helped to make it clear which players need to play in what positions and it helped make decisions on lines and combinations of players."
Last Thursday the Jacks fell 2-1 to Centennial in a game which CEC outshot the opposition 27-26.
"It was a back-and-forth type of game without a lot of penalties," mentioned Bartholdi. "We did learn that our so-called third line of Caitlyn MacVey, Kearsty Cordle and Melissa Clark were strong and they did a very good job."
After a scoreless first period Centennial grabbed a 1-0 lead at 3:17 on a goal by Julia Dubnuzzi. CEC tied the game at 9:51 of the same period when MacVey scored with Clark assisting.
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Casey Montgomery scored the game winner for Centennial with just 3:41 remaining in the third period to make it 2-1.
Paige Thunder made 24 saves on 26 shots for the Jacks while Centennial netminder Christa Hanson made 26 saves on 27 shots.
- Thursday night the Jacks drove home to Cloquet after the loss to Centennial and then Friday afternoon they boarded a bus and headed back down to the Twin Cities to take on Wayzata in a game they lost 3-1.
"They are another very good hockey team," explained Bartholdi. "We got a chance to play some very strong teams and to learn a little about ourselves in the process."
Jill Reynolds scored at 9:41 of the first period to give Wayzata a 1-0 edge, but Whitney Anderson tied the game at 16:44 of the first with Sadie Lundquist and Jessica Baublitz assisting.
Sammy Jenkins scored the go-ahead goal for Wayzata at 11:59 of the second and Meghan Lorenz added an insurance goal on the power play at 10:13 of the third period.
Thunder made 26 saves for the Jacks while Nikki Haralson made 29 saves for Wayzata.
- The Jacks stayed overnight on Friday and Saturday they wrapped up their tough road trip with a 2-1 loss at the hands of Eagan.
Defender Montana Vichorek gave CEC a 1-0 lead at 6:07 of the first with Sarah Williams picking up an assist, but Kristy Hoffman tied it for Eagan with a goal at 12:02 of the opening period.
After a scoreless second period Eagan won the game with a goal at 6:39 of the third with Jordyn Michaud pumping in the game winner.
Thunder made 28 saves on 30 shots for the Jacks and Alli Altmann finished with 30 saves on 31 shots for Eagan.
"The girls aren't down and they realize we could just have easily won those games," said Bartholdi. "I changed some of the defensive combinations and we gave eighth-grader Jesse Ryan a shot against these good teams and she was very good at getting the puck out of the zone. She has an aura about her when she plays and she plays with a lot of confidence."
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Despite not scoring much on the power play, the Jacks moved the puck well and had numerous good chances in all three games. Against Eagan the Jacks mustered six good scoring chances with Thunder pulled in the last minute of the game.
"This will make us tough when it counts in the playoffs," commented Bartholdi. "As long as the girls keep their heads up we'll be fine."
- Following their rough week last week the Jacks got back on the winning track on Monday with a 1-0 win over Chisago Lakes on the road.
The game was a make-up game with Chisago Lakes that had been scheduled on Dec. 21, but was postponed due to bad weather.
Sadie Lundquist scored the game's only goal at 4:35 of the second period and Paige Thunder made 15 saves to get the shutout in goal.
Pine Journal sports reporter Kerry Rodd can be contacted at: kdrodd@aol.com .
