Hockey: Golden Bears slip past FHS, 5-2

“We stuck right with them the whole game,” Broncos senior Nadine Mayer said on Senior Appreciation Night following the loss at Bronco Arena. “We had a couple mistakes that cost some goals, but we stayed right with them.”

After opening the season with an 8-3-3 record, the Broncos (11-11-3) have struggled through injuries, illnesses and inconsistencies. Thursday’s performance proved the Broncos could be turning a corner, and just in the nick of time.

“I loved our effort,” Broncos head coach Gerald Bolstad said. “When we have energy, we can play with anyone.”

Amanda Arbogast led the Golden Bears with two goals, including the game-winner, while Katie Kingston tallied a goal and an assist. Kingston’s goal came on an empty net from the opposite blue line with 1:23 to play.

The Broncos, who led 1-0 after the first period, held the Golden Bears at bay and trailed 3-2 until Arbogast scored her second goal with 2:18 remaining.

“She’s really coming on strong. That whole line played well,” Eveleth-Gilbert head coach Ron Hendrickson said.

International Falls surrendered two goals early in the second period and trailed 2-1 before Michele McDonald tied it with a power-play tally. Arbogast made it 3-2 with only 40 seconds remaining in the second.

“We came back. We played really hard,” Mayer said.

Sydney Gordon scored the first goal for the Broncos, which outshot the Golden Bears 24-20.

Vicky Fossland picked up the win with 22 saves and Nelson stopped 15 shots for the Broncos.

Eveleth-Gilbert (20-4-1), which won Section 7A last season and ends this regular season riding an 8-game win streak, will be the No. 1 seed in the section tournament.

Bolstad expects Chisago Lakes Area to grab No. 2, but the rest is up to the voting process. Section seeding votes by the coaches need to be submitted by 8 a.m. Monday. The tournament starts Thursday.

“I don’t want to be cocky, but I think we can make it the whole way,” Mayer said. “This is the team that could go.”

Game notes

• Falls High School junior Paige Boyum sang the national anthem.

• Mayer, nicknamed “Nads,” had a special program made for Senior Appreciation Night. It asked 17 different things to No. 17. A few highlights included: Mayer’s favorite band? AC/DC. Dream car? 1965 Dodge Charger. Biggest pet peeve? When her brother takes her truck and leaves the tank low on gas.

• Broncos junior Ashley Bahr was academically ineligible for the game, and will also miss the Section 7A playoff opener.

Eveleth-Gilbert 5,

I. Falls 2

EG 0 3 2—5

IF 1 1 0—2

First period — IF, Sydney Gordon (Kathryn West, Bailey Bernard), 9:49.

Second period — EG, Emma Kishel (Caley Westin), 1:36; EG, Jordana Turner (Katie Kingston, Amanda Arbogast), 6:10; IF, Michele McDonald (Mackenzie Raboin), PP, 13:38; EG, Arbogast, 16:20.

Third period — EG, Arbogast, 14:42; EG, Kingston, EN, 15:37.

Goalies — EG, Vicky Fossland, 22 saves; IF, Taylar Nelson, 15 saves.

Section 7A Final Standings

(Through Thursday’s games)

Team Section Overall

Eveleth-Gilbert 11-0-0 20-4-1

Chisago Lakes Area 3-1-0 8-13-2

Princeton 3-1-2 6-11-6

I. Falls 4-5-1 11-11-3

Moose Lake Area 4-6-0 11-13-0

Hibbing/Chisholm 3-4-0 4-19-1

Silver Bay/T.Harb/CC 3-6-1 6-17-1

East Range 1-8-0 7-13-0