Austin Packers girls hockey team felled by Waseca 6-1 Tuesday evening

The Austin Packers girls hockey team was looking to get on the winning track in Waseca versus the Bluejays in a non-conference matchup between two teams from Section 1A Tuesday evening, and it was forward Emma Keith piling up three goals and two assists for five points to lead the Bluejays to a 6-1 win.

Keith put Waseca in front 1-0 with a goal at 7:53 of the first period, but Austin tied the game on an unassisted tally from senior forward/defenseman Sara Wangen, her team-leading 14th goal of the season at 12:42 of the period to tie the game at 1-1.  Keith then finished the hat trick to put the Bluejays ahead to stay with goals at 3:07 and 5:45 of the second period to make the score 3-1, and third period goals from Maizee Storey, Izabela Slectha and Montanna Pumper accounted for the 6-1 final score.

Austin netminder Chloe Schaal faced 39 shots and made 33 saves Tuesday evening, while Waseca goalkeeper Illamay Draheim saw 14 shots and made 13 saves to earn the win in net.  The Packers were whistled for nine penalties Tuesday evening for 18 minutes, while the Bluejays committed five penalties for 10 minutes, and Waseca was 2 for 9 on the power play, while the Packers were 0 for 5.

With the loss, Austin is now 1-13 on the season, and the Packers return to action at Riverside Arena Thursday night versus Winona in a Big 9 Conference matchup, with face-off scheduled for 7:15 p.m.