UPDATED: SHS girls come up short against Mariners

The Superior High School girls hockey team lost to the St. Francis/North Branch Fighting Saints 3-1 Tuesday night at the Superior Ice Arena. The Spartans also lost to Silver Bay Area 4-3 on Thursday.

Sadey Laurvick, with an assist from Paige Gilbertson, scored for Superior in the first period while St. Francis scored a goal in each period.

Justine Stenberg finished with 23 saves for the Spartans.

Anna Carman scored twice and Brooke McMillen and Rachel Dilley both scored once for the Mariners.

Alyssa Kolanczyk, Air Jago and Kari Miller scored Superior’s goals.

Three of Silver Bay’s goals came on the power play.

“I was disappointed with some of our penalties during the first period,” SHS coach Ernie Harker said. “We really dug ourselves a big hole having to play catch up for the rest of the game.”

On top of that, Superior’s starting goalie, Payton Michaud, suffered an ankle injury after a scrum in front of the Spartan net late in the first period and didn’t return.

Michaud had nine saves before Justine Stenberg took over and finished with 17 saves.

“Justine did a great job making some nice saves,” Harker said.

Trailing 3-0, Kolanczyk got Superior on the board with assists from Kelsey Reder and Anna Lurndal.

“I felt we played well in both the second and third periods once we settled down,” Harker said. “Alyssa’s goal was the spark we needed, and in the second period we outshot them 10-6.

Another power-play goal gave the Mariners a 4-1 lead.

“We didn’t throw in the towel and we outplayed them after that,” Harker said.

Superior finished the game with goals from Jago, assisted by Jordyn Thompson and Sadey Laurvick, and Miller, unassisted.

Superior called a timeout with about two minutes remaining and had several good chances but didn’t get the bounce it needed to tie it up.

“I was very happy to see we came together and didn’t quit,” Harker said. “As a team showing we have the desire to compete right to the end. All three lines, and our ‘D’ pairs, are finding their rhythm.”

The Spartans host New Richmond at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Silver Bay Area 2-1-1—4

Superior 0-1-2—3

First period — 1. 1. SB, Anna Carman (Sarah Fjeran, Rebecca Dilley), 5:10 (pp); 2. SB, Carman (Nicole Jaeger, Dilley), 9:07 (pp).

Second period — 3. SB, Brooke McMillen (Dilley), 13:38; 4. S, Alyssa Kolanczyk (Kelsey Reder, Anna Lurndal), 14:52.

Third period — 5. SB, Rachel Dilley (Carman, Fjeran), 11:08 (pp); 6. S, Ari Jago (Jordyn Thompson, Sadey Laurvick), 11:48; 7. S, Kari Miller, 15:45 (pp).

Saves — Cassie Swanson, SB, 22; Payton Michaud, S, 9; Justine Stenberg, S, 17.

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