At first glance the Tigers 1-10 season looks like a small step backwards from last year's inaugural two-win season.
Upon closer scrutiny, however, the 2011 season was one of giant strides for coach Dan Pickens' team. The Tigers lost three one-goal games and dropped two more in overtime.
"We had a great season even though our record doesn't reflect it," Pickens said. "We were much more competitive this year and improved our goal differential form minus-63 to minus-21.
"We will continue to work through the off-season and we return almost the entire team next year."
Pickens hopes for the future were also buoyed by the play of the Tiger junior varsity team that posted a 4-5-2 season record.
All 24 of the varsity letterwinners this spring were underclassmen, including eight juniors: Haley Bradshaw, Jess Erchul, Ashley Gandrud, Kelli Harstad, Tia Jacoby, Adrienne Jolicoeur, Ally Midboe and Kevra Wolfe.
Other letterwinners included sophomores Brittany Olson and Delaney Wright; freshmen Lindsay Benson, Haley Doll, Kylee Glen, Kaeli Halverson, Shaye Jenrich, Delaney Johnson, Maddie Kohlbeck, Kaitlin LaCroix, Breanna Raske, Brooke Raske and Rachael Welzin; eighth-graders Becky Genzler and Shelby Klotz and seventh-grader Brooke Genzler.
Midboe (31 points), Bradshaw (30) and Jolicoeur (27) accounted for more than half of the Tiger offense this spring with Bradshaw leading in goals with 25 and Jolicoeur in assists with 12. Erchul finished with 15 points, Brooke Genzler 12 and Welzin 10.
Kohlbeck started in goal the first the first three games before suffering a season-ending injury and had a 56.0 save percentage and 13.2 goals against average. Lacroix went 1-6 with a 9.6 goals against average and a 44 percent save average. Welzin also logged a game in goal for the Tigers.
"Our sport will be an official Missota Conference sport next year," Pickens said, "and I think we'll have a shot at the first title. I'm very excited about our future."
