The 8-1 Girls Hockey Team took their seven-game win streak on a trip up Highway 61 to take on South St. Paul at Doug Woog Arena on Dec. 17, falling to the 7-5 Packers by a score of 4-2. Their game against Hudson, WI, on Dec. 19 was postponed due to weather until Jan. 17 and they closed out the pre-Christmas schedule with a noon game at the SCHEEL’S Rink at United Heroes League on Dec. 21 against 4-7-1 Park of Cottage Grove, a 3-1 loss.
At South St. Paul
The first period was a difficult one for the Raider offense as they were held to just six shots. Hastings spent a lot of time in transition and in their own end trying to limit the shots on goalie Victoria Steinke who faced 15 shots in the first period, stopping them all.
The second period had the most action with Hastings scoring first just 1:46 after the intermission. Jade Schauer scored a power play goal assisted by Kacey Plank and Grace Petrich. Unfortunately for Hastings, the Packers took over the period scoring three times, two at even strength and one power play, to head to the second intermission up 3-1.
The Packers managed to score one more to go up 4-1 before Anni Schriefer scored an unassisted goal to cut the lead to 4-2, but Hastings could not keep the puck in the Packers zone much of the third period where they only tallied four shots on goal.
Hastings had 12 penalty minutes on six infractions with South St. Paul committing half that, six minutes on three infractions. Two of the four Packer goals were scored on the power play with Hastings scoring once on the power play.
Steinke faced a total of 49 shots on goal stopping 45 of them for a .918 save percentage. Hastings managed to fire off 17 shots on goal in the second period to tally a total of 27 shots for the game.
Versus Park
Outdoor games are unpredictable, but the charm of playing outdoors often outweighs crazy weather, even when the 9 a.m. temp is 10 below zero. Everyone bundled up for the outdoor matchup at the SCHEELS Rink at the Tradition Veterans Complex at United Heroes League for the Raiders matchup with the Wolfpack, and it seemed the only ones slowed by the cold were the Raiders.
Hastings managed 22 total shots on goal to the Wolfpack’s 50 and Park ended up on the winning end of the score as well, winning 3-1.
The first period was a lot of back and forth and it looked like the Raider defense along with Steinke in net were going to weather the Wolfpack’s charges just fine as the first intermission arrived with no score.
The second period, Hastings was killing a penalty when Schauer sprung Erickson for a breakaway and Erickson buried the puck to give Hastings the lead at 4:01. Cottage Grove evened things up at 14:51 and for the second period in a row, the game was tied headed into the break.
1:07 into the third, Park snuck one between the post and Steinke’s leg pad when there was a pile of players to the right of the net. Officials had to convene for a moment to discuss the goal and the goal stood. Then at 2:43, Park was able to snipe one glove side and take the 3-1 lead, which is where the game ended.
The game was rather clean with only four total penalties called. Hastings went to the box for six minutes on three infractions and Park had two minutes on one infraction. Despite seeing 50 shots, Steinke kept Hastings in the game saving 47 for a .940 save percentage.
Up Next
The girls have an extended road trip for the New Hope Holiday Tournament on Dec. 26 and 27 with the first game against Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper at the New Hope Arena. Puck drop for the first game on Dec. 26 is at 7:15 p.m. The first game of 2025 will take place at home against Hill-Murray on Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m.