GIRLS HOCKEY: Persistence pays off as Bemidji batters Detroit Lakes

BEMIDJI – The Lumberjacks sent 12 shots on Detroit Lakes goalie Haileigh Wenger during the first 17 minutes but the freshman stood tall and kept the game scoreless after the first period.

At the break, however, Bemidji coach Bob Brink told his girls to keep their positive approach and that, eventually, good things would happen. The Jacks listened to their coach and the result was an onslaught that resulted in a 7-1 BHS victory at the Community Arena.

“Before the game I challenged the girls to take control right off the bat,” Brink said. “The girls responded for all three periods and it was fun to watch. They peppered the Detroit Lakes goalie and eventually good things started to happen because we were playing so well.”

Allie Heifort opened the floodgates when her rocket from the point zipped past Wenger 5:08 into the second period.

Detroit Lakes tied the game on Sydney Haman’s power play tally two minutes later but in the final four minutes of the period Bemidji scored two more times.

Karleigh Wolkerstorfer scored the eventual winning goal at 13:20 and two minutes later Heifort tallied her second of the game.

In the final stanza Bemidji was unstoppable and 22 shots produced four goals.

Wolkerstorfer notched her second 17 seconds in and later in the period Savanna Hanson would score and Karlee Tower would tally twice. Thursday’s win was Bemidji’s third in a row and upped the overall record to 3-5-4.

Detroit Lakes 0 1 0 - 1

Bemidji 0 3 4 - 7

First period: No scoring

Second period: 1, Bem, Heifort (Wolkerstorfer) PP. 2, DL, Haman (unassisted0 6:51 PP. 3, Bem, Wolkerstorfer (Booth, Dondelinger) 13:20. 4, Bem, Heifort (Hietala) 15:18

Third period: 5, Bem, Wolkerstorfer (Booth) 9:17. 6, Bem, Hanson (Heifort) 4:07. 7, Bem, Tower (Follis) 9:05. 8, Bem, Tower (Booth, Dondelinger) 16:21

Saves Wenger (DL) 50; Frazer (Bem) 16

Penalties/minutes: DL 3/6; Bemidji 2/4