Chugiak-Eagle River slips by Mat-Su

WASILLA — The Mat-Su Ravens were one bounce away from celebrating victory for the first time Thursday night.

But unfortunately for the Ravens — the local girls’ prep hockey squad made up of players from across the Valley now in its second season — the bounce went the other direction.

Chugiak-Eagle River forward Laeissa Mrugala picked up a loose puck that bounced off a Mat-Su stick and scored an unassisted tally with three minutes remaining in regulation to help her squad edge the Ravens 2-1 at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena on Thursday.

With the score tied 1-1, Mrugala picked up the puck near the red line and swiftly skated through the Ravens defense before netting the game-winning goal. With an open look on the Mat-Su net, Mrugala slipped the puck above the stick of Ravens goaltender Rachael O’Malley.

The final goal of the night didn’t diminish the performance of the freshman netminder in the eyes of Mat-Su head coach Dudley Boehm.

“This is a good confidence builder for my younger goaltender,” Boehm said. “This was definitely her best game.”

The loss dropped the Ravens to 0-8 on the season. The team went winless last season.

O’Malley, a freshman at Colony High School, stopped 23 shots in the game, and made several crucial saves for the Ravens.

Midway through the third period, O’Malley — who shares time in the Mat-Su net with sophomore Dominique Schutter —made a sweeping glove save of a shot on a breakaway by Erin Roehling. Following the ensuing face-off, O’Malley made a kick save on a shot from a sharp angle.

Just a minute later, O’Malley rejected a quality shorthanded opportunity by Chugiak-Eagle River blueliner Ramey Weaver.

Mat-Su tied the game midway through the second period when Haley Playle crashed the net and one-timed a Carrie Glatz pass.

Glatz won a battle behind the Chugiak-Eagle River net and sent a centering pass to Playle, who was darting toward the net.

“We’ve been working a lot on stick handling, shooting, little plays to get them thinking about supporting each other,” Boehm said.

Boosted by the confidence from the goal, Mat-Su had a handfull of quality scoring opportunities in the final 15 minutes of the game.

With three minutes left in the second, Playle nearly gave the Ravens the lead when she caught Chugiak-Eagle River goalie Brittany Watson out of position and chipped a backhanded shot toward the net that went just wide.

Early in the third, with a full line of Ravens in front of the Chugiak-Eagle River net, the puck bounced around several times in front of the crease, but Watson was able to stomp on it before it slipped in.

Midway through the third, Mat-Su defenseman Kyla Gauthier led a Ravens rush, but her attempt was just wide, and late in the contest Watson knocked away a shot on a 1-on-1 attempt from forward Louisa Good.

Despite the loss, Boehm was very proud of his squad.

“The girls work real hard,” Boehm said. “They’ve been playing smarter, not turning over the puck as many times in our zone and giving up big shots.”

Boehm had 14 players in the lineup on Thursday. Only four of those players are upperclassmen, and Boehm said many of his players are fairly new to the sport.

Knowing that there is a learning curve, Boehm said he is pleased with the progress of his athletes.

“If it was field hockey it would be a little different, but with the skating skills it’s difficult,” Boehm said. “You can’t jump out and be a super star because you can run fast or jump high. You can be an athlete and jump on and play football, basketball or baseball and excel a lot earlier than you can in hockey.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Chugiak-Eagle River 2, Mat-Su 1

Thursday, Brett Memorial Ice Arena

First period — 1. Chugiak-Eagle River- Roehling (Mrugala) 4:37.

Second period — 2. Mat-Su - Playle (C. Glatz) 5:31.

Third period — 3. Chugiak-Eagle River- Mrugala (unassisted) 3:01.

Shots on goal: Chugiak-Eagle River 24, Mat-Su 20; Saves: Chugiak-Eagle River- Watson 19, Mat-Su- O’Malley 23; Penalties: Chugiak-Eagle River 3-for-6, Mat-Su 1-for-2; Power plays: Chugiak-Eagle River 0-for-1; Mat-Su 0-for-3.