Woodbury girls hockey: Royals’ upset of Hastings falls just short

The Woodbury girls hockey team’s losing streak hit eight games with a pair of Suburban East Conference losses last week – 8-1 to Roseville and 2-1 to Hastings.

In the Royals’ 2-1 loss to Hastings on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Bielenberg Ice Arena, Woodbury (1-9; 0-7 SEC) had a 1-0 lead after the first period, but couldn’t hang on as the Raiders (6-5; 3-4 SEC) scored a goal in the second period and one more in the third period to escape Woodbury with the win.

Woodbury eighth grader Livia Twohig gave the Royals a 1-0 lead in the game in the waning moments of the first period on an assist by Mandy McAlpine.

However, Hastings scored 6:44 into the second period. Then, tied 1-1 Hastings’ Erin Moes put in the game-winning goal 8:47 into the third period. Woodbury gave a spirited effort in order to knot things up once again, but was denied.

Woodbury sophomore Kaelan Geisser kept the Royals in the game, stopping 26 of the Raiders’ 28 shots. The Royals had 16 shots on goal in the contest.

Prior to falling the Hastings, No. 1-ranked Roseville proved why it’s unbeaten this season with an 8-1 win over the Royals.

After Roseville (8-0-1; 7-0 SEC) took a 1-0 lead 1:41 into the game, Woodbury tied things up 1-1 on a goal by Sarah Wahlin just under two minutes later. However, the Raiders took a 2-1 lead heading into the second period, put two more goals in for a 4-1 lead after the second, then blew things open with four unanswered goals in the third period. Roseville poured 55 shots onto Geisser in the game, with the netminder stopping 47 of them.

Woodbury played host to intra-district foe Park on Tuesday, Dec. 20, after the Bulletin went to print. Next, the Royals will compete in the Robbinsdale Armstrong Tournament, beginning on Tuesday, Dec. 27.

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