Blair Makes History and ACE Scores in Bunches

by Pete Waggoner

Edina, MN - History was made on Thursday night as Sedona Blair and her Lake Cowgirl team posted the first shutout in Celly League action.  The Dangle League opened play with a spirited 4-3 Performance Office Papers shootout win over Tradition Mortgage.  Ace Hardware continued their sizzling scoring paces and cruised to a 9-1 win over REMAX Advantage Plus. 


Lake Cowgirl 2 TRIA 0

The first ever shutout was delivered by Lake Cowgirl’s Sedona Blair (New Hampshire) who anchored  her team to a 33 save 2-0 win over TRIA in Celly League action Thursday night from Braemar Arena.  Blair was locked in a battle with a pair of goalies on the other end of the ice from TRIA’s tandem of Hailey Hanson (Mankato) and Kaitlin Groess (BSU) were dueling big time. 


Hanson had 21 first half saves, many of them sterling and was not to be outdone by Blair who is now 3-0 in Celly League action this summer.  Groess made 9 saves in the second half yet it was Nina Steigauf (Quinnipiac) who’s third goal would stand as the game-winner with 12:50 left in the second half.  She scored a gritty goal off the top of the crease to beat Groess.  Katelyn Roberts (Penn State) scored her third goal of the season on a late power play goal. 


It has been the defensive play of Lake Cowgirl this year, allowing just 5 goals against in three games that has been the key. From the goaltending of Blair and Dani Strom (UST) and the overall team has stood out in the league that is played at a high pace with few whistles.  They held a TRIA team who entered the game averaging 4 goals per game in check and to improve to a perfect 3-0 record on the season.  TRIA fell to 1-2 and are in 4th place of the Celly League standings.  


Ace Hardware 9 REMAX Advantage Plus 1

The torrid pace of goal scoring continued for Ace Hardware as they scored five goals in the first half and added four more in the second to skate to the 9-1 win over REMAX Advantage Plus. Three players had three point nights for Ace, led by Taylor Otremba (MSU) who had 2 goals and an assist.  Lindzi Avar (Cornell) had a goal and an assist while Bella Shipley (MSU) had a 3 assist effort in the win.  


Once again, Ace continued their balanced scoring with six other players picking up two points and 11 total players landed on the scoresheet. The 25 Ace goals is lapping the field as the next closest team in the goal column through three games is Lake Cowgirl with 2.  


Goalie Hailey Hanson (MSU) filled in goal admirably and nearly posted the league’s second ever shutout and minutes after the first ever by Sedona Blair of Lake Cowgirl.  Hanson played a perfect 30 minutes in her TRIA team’s opening game against Lake Cowgirl and she added another shutout half to open for ACE only to be solved by REMAX forward Lauren Stenslie (UST) with 12:08 to go in the game.  Hanson made 21 saves to earn the win. 


The Celly League will be in action on Tuesday night from Braemar Arena.