Hastings settles for 5-5 tie with Forest Lake

The Hastings girls hockey team settled for a 5-5 tie Friday with Forest Lake. Hastings outshot the Rangers, 42-23, but couldn’t get the game-winner in the net.

Hastings is now 7-9-1 on the season.

“We generated 42 shots and only gave up 23, so we were happy with how we did in the shot column as well as the scoring chance column,” coach Jeff Corkish said. “We had four or five additional good scoring chances that we did not capitalize on so the score could have gotten out of hand.”

Team defense was a problem in the tie, Corkish said.

“Unfortunately we are having trouble controlling rebounds around the net and giving up soft goals,” he said. “Everyone on the team is to blame for the defensive side of the game. Right now we are causing too many turnovers in our zone as well as the neutral zone. Part of that stems from a lack of skill when making passes or trying to get pucks out of the zone, but a lot of it is that we are not getting to where we need to be to make the right plays away from the puck.

“Our wingers are not consistent when coming back into our zone to help the defense, forcing the defense to pass to girls too high on the wall where there is pressure, ending up in bad turnovers.”

Brooke Weber played in goal for Hastings.

On the offensive side of the rink, Hastings got five goals from five different players.

Sami Claussen scored a goal, assisted by Kaitlin Stark and Hannah Simons.

Danielle Duffy had an unassisted goal, as did Kit Ruedy.

Natalie Simons had a power play goal, assisted by Kiki Radke and Claussen.

Stark had a goal, assisted by Duffy and Natalie Simons.

“The good side of the game is that our kids are trying to work hard — they are not a lazy group, just a group who is young and needs time and development to be on their side,” Corkish said. “We are always getting better and the girls listen really well and buy into what we are trying to do for the most part. The offense is starting to create a lot of scoring opportunities and we are starting to see harder and quicker shots on net where kids are looking at what they are shooting at.”

Hastings got its season off to a 4-1 start, and since then the team has gone 3-8-1. Corkish, though, has high hopes for his team down the stretch.

“Everyone is positive about the chances in February, because I think everyone knows that we will be much better in a month,” he said. “There is just a feeling and confidence that we have even though we know the wins are not coming as often as we would like.”

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