Section 1A 2006-7

[RSI]

...and Albert Lea 4-1

[Twinnesota]

Austin isn't that overwhemingly great, and will definitely get some competition come Sections time. The competition could come from Albert Lea, Faribault, Mankato West, Northfield...any.

Sections is when things really mean something. And you only have to lose once at that point.

Austin's 4-1 win over AL was interesting, because AL really gave them a tussle all game long. Other teams may too...

T

[RSI]

I agree, Austin wasn't overwhelmingly great or even overwhelmingly good against Albert Lea. Austin got what they deserved, a win, as they are the better team. You could see it all game, Austin was better with the puck and they were physically stronger than Albert Lea. AL put up 21 shots, but most of them were from outside and/or soft. The AL girls can skate with Austin, but it ends there.

AL will need to get better with the puck and stronger if they're going to make any noise come section time. It wouldn't hurt to get some production out of their other forwards either.

[Twinnesota]

Austin had 47 shots, so the AL goaltending was good (0.915 Save Percentage).

AL had at least 8 breakaways and some good power play opportunities and still could not convert.

T

[golfreak]

I agree, Austin wasn't as good as everyone was saying they should be. AL had their chances but can't get to the net to score. Their powerplay wasn't anything to brag about either. Austin is a good team with a lot of depth and is probably the best team in the section.

[falcons89]

It seems the only people hyping up Austin are Albert Lea fans and parents. That is strange. Austin is OK. Faribault will win the section.

[RSI]

AL's powerplay struggled to get it out of their own end. Jenkins was behind the net playing keep away...I thought AL be able to get somethng going on the PP with Jenkins serving 2 minutes, but that didn't help either.

[Twinnesota]

So Faribault is going to State, huh?

Let's see what happens in a couple of weeks.

T

[RSI]

Early on I thought Austin would have an easy go of things, not so sure anymore. Faribo going to State wouldn't shock me. I'll know more by the end of the week after AL plays Faribo.

[RSI]

It seems the only people hyping up Austin are Albert Lea fans and parents. That is strange. Austin is OK. Faribault will win the section.

That's because we're about the only ones who participate on this board. Maybe you should recruit some teammates, fans, parents or friends to make it more fun

[hocsocstud]

i am not sure who will win.. but no one will walk away with a trip to state this year. austin is not as good as anyone thought.. faribault still has to prove themselves. albert lea needs to have other girls score besides #5 if they want to win

[petomwendo]

what makes austin 'not that great'? just wondering. seeing as they're 6-0, i wouldn't be playing the 'unimpressed' card. their victories may not be pretty, but they find ways to win. also, falcons89, i think the reason that not many austin people are here (in the forum) is because they're too busy walking the walk instead of talking the talk.

[hocsocstud]

i didn't mean austin wasn't any good but they aren't for sure going to win the section like everyone was saying a month ago..

[petomwendo]

that's true, they do have to work for it. they can't make it on talent alone. almost no one can.

[RSI]

How many of the 6 W's were good games?

11/18/2006 Waseca 12 - 2 W
11/21/2006 Winona Winhawks 5 - 1 W
11/24/2006 Saint Cloud Icebreakers 5 - 2 W
11/25/2006 Sartell/Sauk Rapids Stormn Sab 4 - 0 W
11/28/2006 Mankato West 6 - 1 W
11/30/2006 Albert Lea 4 - 1 W

From the looks of things, maybe half of them. I expected West to put up a bigger fight than that, but then again I expected Austin to beat Albert Lea worse. Austin is the supposed to be the best team in the Section this year. We're just saying we haven't seen it yet.

After what I saw at Faribo tonight, falcons89 may want to reconsider that "Faribault will win the section" prediction. IMO Faribo is probably the 2nd best team in the Section right now, Austin is a stronger, more balanced team than Faribo at this point, but we've only played about 1/4 of the games.

[golfreak]

I heard that the reffing in Faribo last night was pitiful. Called off a goal because they claimed they couldn't see it? Penalties for blocking out on faceoffs? That's typical I guess for when you travel to Faribo, I guess we just have to start getting used to it.

[RSI]

16 penalties in the Albert Lea / Faribault game, 8 for each team. Both teams have a right to complain about the officiating in that one, it was bad both ways. It's not that they were all bad calls or one sided, the officials were just very inconsistent with the calls they made. You'd see girls collide and it's a penalty or you'd see a heavy "rub out" by a girl and it's not a penalty. It happened in overtime, 2 girls collide and the Faribault player gets a penalty. That's not a penalty, they ran into each other.

[petomwendo]

I recently heard that the austin girls actually haven't yet "played up to their potential." it does look that way. they did let albert lea give them a tough time. and i heard the winona game wasn't so good either. so who knows? maybe none of them were Austin's "A" games.
anyway, this next week should be interesting for them, as they play Mayo on Tuesday and Faribault on Thursday. All three teams can be argued as being solid, with Mayo obviously being the favorite in any match-up in the Big 9. They've gone undefeated in the Big 9 for years now. Think anyone can dethrone Mayo?

golfreak, whose goal was called off? i really can't stand it when the refs don't let the players play. yeah certain penalties should be called, but 16 penalties? that's just ridiculous.

[hocsocstud]

albert lea goal was called off, they scored and then the net was pushed off so they called it a no goal when it clearly went it.

[Twinnesota]

Did not see the AL-FB game.

Austin did not LET Albert Lea give them a tough time.

Austin will lose to Mayo.

T

[SEhockeyDAD]

albert lea goal was called off, they scored and then the net was pushed off so they called it a no goal when it clearly went it.

Mind you, this is only my opinion, but timely goal-dislocation in Faribault is not uncommon.

[Twinnesota]

Maybe that's how FB will win the Section !!

[RSI]

I was behind the net to the left during the "timely dislocation" of the net play, all the action was to the right side of the goal. From where I was standing I didn't see it go over the line. The people to my right, who happen to be from Albert Lea, said it went in. I was closer to the play than the official and I can't say for sure that it was a goal or not. The official, on the other hand, was not where he needed to be to make the right call (whatever that was). Even if it did count, it was only the 2nd period.

[petomwendo]

it's goals like that that make me wish they had instant replay for high school hockey.

If Faribault has to rely on iffy calls and luck to win the section, that's sad.

ok then albert lea GAVE austin a tough time.

austin GAVE mayo a hard time last year, only losing 0-1 in mayo and 3-4 at home. they were ahead at home and then mayo edged them out. mayo will be tough, but i think austin can pull this one out if, for the first time this year, they have an A game.

[hocsocstud]

since i live near clarks grove i got a hold of the faribault newspaper and happened to read the article of the albertlea faribault game... faribault players, coaches, and parents should be ashamed of the quotes and what they said about albert lea in that article. horrible sportsmanship and one of the worst written sports articles i have seen in 20 years. I suggest takin a look at it if possible.