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Minneapolis 2, Chisago Lakes 0

The Wildcat girls’ hockey team stayed within one goal of the Minneapolis Novas until the very end, when the Novas sealed a 2-0 win with an empty net goal by Finnley Bettcher with 26 seconds remaining.  The Novas shut down the Wildcat offense for the whole game, and the Wildcats nearly did the same thing to the Novas.  The game remained scoreless for almost two full periods until, with Aven Lyckholm off for tripping, the Novas’ Emily Scott scored a power play goal with 12 seconds left in the period to take a 1-0 lead.  The Wildcats pressed the hardest in the first period, outshooting the n=Novas 12-7.  But the Novas outshot the Wildcat 8-1 in the second period, and 23-18 for the game.  Wildcat goalie Ava Aarnio allowed just one goal on 22 shots.

Chisago Lakes 3, Litchfield/Dassel Cokato 0

Zoe Neurer scored twice to lead the Wildcats to a 3-0 win over the Lichfield/Dassel-Cokato Dragons on Saturday, November 22 at Dassel-Cokato Civic Arena.  The Wildcats outshot the Dragons 27-18 for the game, and goalie Ava Aarnio stopped all 18 shots she faced to pick up her second shutout of the season.

Neuer scored at 6:19 of the first period to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead, assisted by Lexi Smothers and Aven Lyckholm.  Neurer scored again at 4:07 of the second period, with Lexi Smothers again getting an assist.  Naomi Eaton picked up the other assist on Neurer’s goal.  Five minutes later, Cam Hinsch scored to stretch the Wildcat lead to 3-0.  Sese Ritter got the lone assist on Hinsch’s goal.

Hockey Hullaballoo

The Wildcats (5-1) will head to Cheeseland to face the Hudson Raiders at the Hudson Sports & Civic Center this Saturday at noon.  On Tuesday, December 2, they will head north to Hibbing Memorial Arena to take on the Hibbing/Chisholm Bluejackets at 7 p.m.

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