The Brainerd/Little Falls Warriors is facing plenty of pressure this week with finals at school, plus home games against top Section 8-2A rivals as they beat Sartell/Sauk Rapids Storm 'N' Sabres 3-1 in a Central Lakes Conference matchup Thursday, Jan. 17, and prepare to host Roseau Friday, Jan. 18.
The Warriors passed the first test by defeating Sartell/SR as goaltender Olivia King stopped 23 shots, including two big saves from close range with two minutes remaining and her team clinging to a 2-1 lead.
After those saves, the Warriors skated down the ice and added an insurance goal when Cheyenne Abear made a nice centering pass to Lindsey Booth, who fired a shot in the top corner with 1:42 remaining. That goal helped the home team win its 10th straight game and ninth straight against Central Lakes Conference opponents.
"This was like a playoff game," said B/LF coach Jim Ernster. "(S/SR) won the section three years ago. Roseau won it two years ago and we won it last year. So it's a big week. Plus most of the girls have finals this week. It's a stressful week, but our girls do well under pressure, especially Olivia. She likes games that keep her on her edge."
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King agreed.
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Warriors 3, Sartell/SR 1
- Key: Goaltender Olivia King stops 23 shots
- Conf.: BLF 7-0, SSR 6-4
- Overall: BLF 16-2-1, SSR 12-8-1
- Next: Brainerd hosts Roseau 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18
- For more photos go to https://bit.ly/2FzdNLi
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"I play better when the game is close," said the senior, who also defeated S/SR 5-1 Dec. 11. "I'm more focused."
The game became close when S/SR scored just 59 seconds into the third period to cut the deficit to 2-1.
"I would have liked to have had the shutout, but the puck hit my stick and then my skate and went in," King explained of Ingrid Buiceag-Arama's goal at the side of the net.
The Warriors assumed a 1-0 lead on Abear's power-play goal at 6:27 of the opening period. Booth centered the puck to Abear, who quickly fired a shot past goaltender Chloe Stockinger.
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B/LF expanded its lead to 2-0 midway through the second period after forcing a turnover deep in the S/SR end as the Sabres power play ended. Gabbie Smith took control of the puck and centered a pass to Josie Kramer, who was alone and waited for the goalie to commit before firing a shot into the top of the net. The Warriors killed off a two-man advantage for 1:37 late in the period thanks to four saves by King.
"This was a nice win," Ernster said. "The girls will be done with finals on Friday afternoon and the weight of the world will be off them. Then they will focus on playing Roseau (who the Warriors defeated 2-1 in last year's section final)."
For more photos go to https://bit.ly/2FzdNLi .
Sartell/SR 0 0 1 - 1
Brainerd/LF 1 1 1 - 3
First period: BLF-Cheyenne Abear (Lindsey Booth) (ppg) 6:27
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Second period: BLF-Josie Kramer (Gabbie Smith, Jenna Nieman) 8:33
Third period: SSR-Ingrid Buiceng-Arama :59; BLF-Booth (Abear) 15:18
Shots on goal: BLF 22, SSR 24
Goalies: BLF-Olivia King (23 saves); SSR-Chloe Stockinger (19 saves)
