Rochester Mayo struggled to produce offense in its season opener on Saturday and fell to Mankato East 6-0 in a Big Nine Conference girls hockey game at Graham Arena.
East scored three goals in the second period and three more in the third.
The Cougars outshot Mayo 48-6.
Madison Davis led the way for East with four goals.
Senior goalie Makayla Pahl made 42 saves in her first start for the Spartans.
Mayo is back in action at 7 p.m. Friday at Hudson, Wis.
MANKATO EAST 6, MAYO 0
East#0#3#3#—#6
Mayo#0#0#0#—#0
Mankato East: Madison Davis 4 goals; McKenzie Keller 1 goal, 1 assist; Claire Johnson 1 goal; Bri Adams 3 assists; Saisha Dau 2 assists. Goalie: Andrea Schreiber 6 saves (6 shots).
Mayo: Goalie: Makayla Pahl 42 saves (48 shots).
Source: https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/high_school/hockey/girls-hockey-spartans-shut-out-in-opener/article_bbfa1c42-e610-11e8-bdf3-2b682fc8bfa5.html
MAYO SPARTANS
Head coach: Mike McCormack
Assistants: Keegan Hakala, Brad Berge, Nicole Root, Case Hanson, Jessi Johnston
Last season: 20-5-0 overall, 14-4-0 Big Nine Conference.
Top returners: So. F Devynn Priest (14-15—29), So. D Luella Bianco (1-9—10), Sr. D Alexa Hruska (1-7—8).
2018-19 outlook: The Spartans lost five of their top six scorers, all of whom put up big points last season, but they hope to make up for that with a strong defensive corps and goaltending. Those five high-scoring, graduated players – Brooke Leone, Megan Adair, Eryn Fjelsted, Maddi Lutz and Maeve Cameron – combined for 194 points.
Sophomore Devynn Priest returns to lead the way up front. She had 14 goals and 29 points last season as a freshman, after leading the Spartans with 17 goals and 41 points as an eighth-grader. The two-time All-Big Nine Conference forward enters her third varsity season with 31 career goals and 70 points.
In goal, senior Makayla Pahl will step in to anchor the Spartans. Pahl, a University of Minnesota commit, played last season with the Mayo boys team, but will backstop the girls team this year. She was also a member of the gold-medal winning Team USA at the Under-18 Women’s World Championships in Russia.
Pahl will have an experienced defensive corps in front of her, led by varsity veterans Alexa Hruska (senior), Luella Bianco (sophomore) and Maggie Augeson (sophomore). Seventh-grader Layla Rippentrop will join that group, too, adding size and offensive potential to the Spartans’ blue line.
“We have a lot of young players who will very quickly need to understand the speed and strength required to consistently compete at the varsity level,” coach Mike McCormack said.
ROSTER
Seniors – F Payton Butterfield, D Alexa Hruska, G Makayla Pahl. Juniors – F Holly Boesch, F Haley Handelman, F Holly Janosik, F Nakya Renn. Sophomores – D Maggie Augeson, D Luella Bianco, D Jasmin Gieke, G Katherine Holmen, F Rioghnna Pittock, F Devynn Priest. Freshmen – F Molly Adair, F Abigail Jacobson, G Chloe Rupprecht, F Milla Sadowy. Eighth-graders – F Camberly Tripp, D Ella Dozois, F Megan Lutz, F Jorden Ruskell, F Isabel Wright. Seventh-grader – D Layla Rippentrop.
Source: https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/high_school/hockey/girls-hockey---southeastern-minnesota-season-previews/article_84b7323a-e451-11e8-952a-b7d880383c7f.html