Greta Freed's first goal of the night turned the momentum, and Rochester John Marshall seized it to pull away from rival Rochester Mayo in a 5-2 Big Nine Conference girls hockey victory at the Rochester Recreation Center on Tuesday.
Freed — who has eight goals and 12 points in seven games for JM this season — started her hat trick with 4 seconds to go in the first period. Her first goal of the game gave JM the lead for good at 2-1.
After a scoreless second period, Ashley Koehler made it 3-1 at the 3:47 mark of the third, then Freed scored again at 5:42.
Mayo cut its deficit to 4-2 on a Devynn Priest goal, but Freed iced the victory and completed her hat trick with an unassisted even-strength goal at the 12:34 mark of the final period.
"The girls played a good game," JM coach Josh Chapman said. "Our game defensively is starting to come together."
The Rockets (2-5-0 overall, 2-3-0 Big Nine Conference) played a strong game at both ends, outshooting Mayo 30-27. Chloe Rupprecht made 25 saves for the Spartans (1-4-0, 0-3-0) and Anysia Heimer made 25 stops for the Rockets.
"Anysia had a fantastic game in net," Chapman said. "She made some big saves on great scoring chances and all four of our (defensemen) had a solid game."
JM 5, MAYO 2
Mayo               1  0  1  —  2
John Marshall  2  0  3  —  5
Mayo: Luella Bianco 1 goal; Devynn Priest 1 goal. Goalie: Chloe Rupprecht 25 saves (30 shots).
John Marshall: Greta Freed 3 goals; Josie Nichols 1 assist; Ashley Koehler 1 goal, 2 assists; Emmy Mueller 1 goal. Goalie: Anysia Heimer 25 saves (27 shots).
AUSTIN TOPS WEST ON ROAD
MANKATO — Jordyn McCormack recorded a hat trick and Kyia Radford Garcia made 13 of her 26 saves in the third period to lift Austin to a 4-3 Big Nine Conference girls hockey victory at Mankato West on Tuesday.
McCormack scored once in the first period and twice in the second, when Austin also received a goal from A.J. Barrera.
The Packers (2-3-0 Big Nine, 2-3-0 overall) host Albert Lea on Thursday. West is 2-2-0, 4-2-0.
AUSTIN 4, WEST 3
Austin  1  3  0  —  4
West    1  1  1  —  3
Austin: Jordyn McCormack 3 goals; A.J. Barrera 1 goal; Alexis Stich 1 assist; Isikiyah Hemann 1 assist; Kate Holtz 1 assist. Goalie: Kyia Radford Garcia 26 saves (29 shots).
Mankato West: Allyson Grabianowski 1 goal; Molly Grundhoffer 1 goal; Emily Bloemke 1 goal; Trinity Jackson 1 assist. Goalie: Sarah Olsen 15 saves (19 shots).
