Two early goals enough for Stars
MEDFORD GIRLS HOCKEY
The Medford Raiders continue to limit scoring from some of the area’s top girls hockey programs, but being unable to generate much of their own offense has prevented them from pulling off upsets in their last three games.
In Thursday’s first-ever meeting between the Raiders and Eau Claire Area Stars, the host Stars jumped ahead with two goals midway through the first period and that wound up being enough for them to earn a 3-1 win over the Raiders.
The Stars, a combination of players from Eau Claire North, Eau Claire Memorial, Altoona and Fall Creek, got those decisive goals 27 seconds apart from Kate Roberts and Abby Karnitz and then answered Medford’s only goal with one from Victoria Kitelinger to skate to their second win of the year against five losses. The Stars picked up their third win the following night by trouncing Northland Pines 12-1.
Medford fell to 1-3 despite getting another 52 saves from freshman goalie Ilsa Brunner, who faced a barrage of 24 shots in the first period. But, she and her defensive teammates kept the Raiders in the game by allowing just two goals on those shots. Roberts’ goal came at 9:01 with a Karnitz assist and Karnitz followed at 9:28 with an Evelyn Kolar assist.
Things evened out some in the second period. Eau Claire Area outshot Medford 11-4 and the Raiders got one of their shots past goalie Evie Pritzl. That came off the stick of senior Eryka Seidl, who scored off an assist from Emily Kiselicka. Kitelinger’s goal at 10:52 came off assists from Kennedy Gruhlke and Addison Gruhlke and closed the scoring for the night. The Stars outshot Medford 20-3 in the scoreless third period. Pritzl had seven saves while picking up the win in goal.
Neither team had a power play in the well-played contest.
Medford is scheduled to host the Hayward Co-op, who is off to a terrific 6-1 start to the season, today, Thursday, at 5 p.m. in game one of a girls/boys doubleheader at the Simek Center. The Raiders travel to Northland Pines Friday for a 6 p.m. face-off and then head west to face the Chippewa Falls-Menomonie Co-op at 5 p.m. on Monday with a JV game to follow. Medford hosts the rival Northern Edge Co-op at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
This busy stretch concludes with a Dec. 22 home doubleheader against the Houghton-Hancock, Mich. club squad that starts at 5 p.m.
