The Hastings Raiders girl’s hockey team had a challenging week on the ice, wrapping up play just before the holiday break with a 4 to 0 loss to Rochester Mayo on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Hastings Civic Arena. The final score did not reflect the effort or the pace of play, as Hastings carried much of the action and generated steady pressure throughout the night.
Hastings came out sharp in the opening period, skating well and creating chances early. The Raiders fired 16 shots on goal in the first period alone, forcing Rochester Mayo goalie Ameila Ranfranz to be busy from the start. Despite that push, it was the visitors who struck first. Rochester Mayo scored at 16:44 of the first period when Abby Weick finished an even strength chance to give the Spartans a 1 to 0 lead.
The second period proved to be the turning point. Hastings continued to control long stretches of play and kept the puck in the offensive zone, but Rochester Mayo capitalized on special teams and transition opportunities. A power play goal by Maggie McLaughlin at 4:18 made it 2 to 0, and just 32 seconds later Olivia Dahl added a shorthanded goal, catching Hastings in transition and extending the lead to three. Rochester Mayo added one more goal later in the period on an even strength tally by Taylor Kurtz, closing the middle frame with a 4 to 0 advantage.
The third period was scoreless, but not for lack of effort from the Raiders. Hastings outshot Rochester Mayo 11 to 2 in the final period, continuing to push the pace and looking for a way back into the game. Time and again, Ranfranz turned aside quality chances, finishing the night with 35 saves to preserve the shutout.
Addison Lanning made the start in goal for Hastings and faced 15 shots over the course of the game. She turned away 11 of them and kept the Raiders within reach during a difficult stretch in the second period. Defensively, Hastings stayed composed in the third, limiting Rochester Mayo to just two shots and showing resilience despite the score.
Special teams played a key role in the outcome. Hastings went 0 for 4 on the power play, while Rochester Mayo converted once on three opportunities. Penalties were relatively even, with Hastings serving eight minutes on four infractions and Rochester Mayo taking five minor penalties for 10 minutes. Sophie Thorkelson, Kyndra Otto, and Delaney Solberg were among the Raiders whistled for penalties, while Hastings also drew several calls that led to power play chances that just could not be finished.
While the scoreboard stayed quiet for Hastings, the shot totals told a different story. The Raiders finished with a 35 to 15 edge in shots on goal, an encouraging sign moving forward. Players like Lauren Judge, Sky Woodwick, and Bentley Stoffel helped drive offensive zone time, while defenders worked to keep plays alive at the blue line and funnel pucks toward the net.
Hastings will look to regroup and build on the strong effort when play resumes after the break. The Raiders will travel to New Hope Ice Arena North to take on Bloomington Jefferson on Dec. 30 at 7:15 p.m., then travel to Hill-Murray on Jan. 6 at 6:00 p.m. Hastings continues its road stretch at St. Paul, Two Rivers on Jan. 9 at 7:00 p.m., before heading to Morris, Benson Area on Jan. 10 for a 3:00 p.m. puck drop.