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| Kaitlyn Lacroix 3 goals, assist (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
The Tigers won the regular season meeting between the two teams 18-2 and the rematch looked like a re-run most of the night.
"We have been anticipating the post-season for a while now and the time is here<' Tiger coach Dan Pickens said. We have had a phenomenal season so far, but as we talked about everyone starts at 0-0 in the playoffs.
"We were able to get the entire section roster into the game which was nice."
Shelby Klotz scored twice in the game's first 1:38 to set the tone for the contest and the home team led 10-0 with 10:51 remaining in the opening half to start running time.
The lead was at an even dozen by intermission and swelled even more over the final half.
Pickens had a chance to use his roster liberally throughout the night and the final stat sheet showed the results.Thirteen different players scored goals and 15 scored at least a point.
Klotz finished with four goals to top the list. Kaitlyn Lacroix added three scores and an assist and Kaeli Halverson and Alexis Stanley each found the net twice.
Rachael Welzin, Amanda Davenport, Betsy Genzler, Brooke Raske, Ashley Steffes, Christina Steffes,, Kelly Kornmann, Kamryn Corraro and Ashley Hessler also scored for the winners.
Genzler chipped in with three assists and Ashley Steffes and Brooke Raske each had two. Breanna Raske and Ali Saby also recorded assists for the Tigers.
Goalkeeper Maddie Kohlbeck didn't see much action around the net but stopped five of the six Raider shots.
The win vaulted the No. 5-rated Tigers into a Friday night semifinal match-up at Tiger Stadium against the winner of Tuesday's night's opening round game between Owatonna and Rochester Century.
"We are looking forward to playing Friday and will be ready," Pickens said. "Glad we are playing at home, I think the large field is an advantage for our very fast, athletic team."
