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Cloquet-Esko-Carlton 5, Chisago Lakes 4

Freshman Megan Lushanko broke into the 2008-2009 scoring column with a bang, netting a hat trick and an assist in the Wildcat girls' hockey team's home opener last Tuesday, November 25 at Chisago Lakes Arena. But 15th-ranked Class AA Cloquet's goal with just over three minutes remaining in the game broke a 4-4 tie and sent the Class A Wildcats down to a 5-4 defeat, dropping their record to 0-3 for the young season.

Cloquet's late goal provided their only lead of the game. The Wildcats scored to take the lead four times during the game, and each time the Lumberjacks scored to tie the game within a very short period of time. The Wildcats dominated play against the more-experienced Cloquet squad for much of the game, outshooting the Lumberjacks 32-23 on the day.

Lushanko led off the scoring four minutes into the first period. Freshman Laura Monson backchecked in the offensive zone to keep the puck inside the blue line. Junior forward Ashley Gibson picked up the loose puck and dropped it to Lushanko in the right circle. Lushanko ripped a shot past the Cloquet goalie to give the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead. Cloquet tied it up just over a minute later with a shot from the high slot. The Wildcats went back on top at the 11:17 mark of the first period. Lushanko carried the puck into the Lumberjack zone to the front of the net. She deked right, and then put it into the open left side of the net. Lushanko had been stopped on a similar play just a minute earlier, but this time made it count. Cloquet scored on the power play just two minutes later to make the score 2-2 at the end of one.

The Wildcats went back up on top with seven-and-a-half minutes left in the second period. Lushanko passed the puck to senior defenseman Laura Greene at the left point. Greene ripped a slapshot toward the net. Freshman Laura Monson, standing in front of the net, tipped in Greene's shot to make the score 3-2. This time, the Lumberjacks waited nearly four minutes before tying the score, scoring an even strength goal to make it 3-3 after two periods.

Lushanko completed her hat trick just 1:40 into the third period. Greene rocketed another slapshot from the left point. This time Lushanko tipped it in, giving the Wildcats yet another one-goal lead. The Lumberjacks again tied it up just a minute later. Both teams failed to capitalize on several scoring chances after that till Cloquet scored the game-winner with three minutes remaining.

"Lushanko had some scoring opportunities in our first two games," said Wildcat head coach Jason Mahlen, "but she was a little snakebit. The floodgates sure opened for her tonight. In fact, I felt that Megan's whole line had an extremely good night for us. If Laura Monson hadn't hustled to keep the puck in the zone early in the game, our first goal wouldn't have happened. Ashley Gibson made a nice pass on that play, as well. Gibson made several good passes that created scoring opportunities tonight. She really showed some playmaking ability. And our third line of Jenna Dobosenski, Danielle Tossey and Katie Sorenson didn't allow a goal when they were on the ice tonight. If we continue to get solid play out of that line, good things will happen for us this season.

"Laura Greene played a very strong game for us tonight," continued Mahlen. "She was ill and missed our season opener against Cambridge, and I don't think she was yet a hundred percent for the Forest Lake game. Laura took some nice shots from the point that showed how hard she had worked on improving her shots all summer. Laura takes low, hard shots and gets them off quickly. If she continues to play this consistently all season, we'll be very pleased.

The Wildcats welcome two section opponents to Chisago Lakes Arena this weekend. They'll face Eveleth-Gilbert Friday night at 7 p.m., and then take on Duluth Denfeld at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Next Tuesday, they'll head to New Hope Arena to take on the Robbinsdale Cooper Hawks at 7 p.m. in their North Suburban Conference opener.

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