After opening the first week of the season with a 1-1 record, the Blue Devils went on a tear, winning the next two games by a combined score of 13-1 with victories over Redwood Valley and Little Falls.
It was a role reversal against Willmar on Nov. 20 as the Cardinals erupted for the game's first eight goals before the Blue Devils were able to tack a point on the scoreboard late in the third period.
The loss to Willmar brings the Blue Devils record to 3-2.
Against Redwood Valley on Nov. 13, the Blue Devils came out on fire, scoring five goals in the first period. They added another four goals in the second period to close out the scoring, winning 9-0. Blue Devil netminder Kayla Guck picked up her first shutout of the year, stopping just four shots.
"The girls played very well, the passing and positional game was on tonight," Blue Devil coach Jim Conrad said. "They controlled the play in every zone of the ice, and had very good shot selection. They really started showing evidence of gelling as a team."
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The Blue Devils players were able to pad their stats with sophomore forward Cassie Behl collecting four points to lead the team. Samantha Schultz and Alicia Gorka each had three points, followed by Jackie Zaic, Kayla Bjorge and Leah Dykhoff with two points apiece.
The Blue Devils picked up their second straight victory with a 4-1 win over the Flyers on Nov. 16. After falling behind early in the first period, the Blue Devils rallied behind a hat trick and assist from Zaic and a goal from Samantha Lemke.
"The girls more importantly played their best hockey of the young season, playing hard from the drop of the puck to the final buzzer," Conrad said. "Defense was our strength in this game for us, and they really clicked in the offensive zone."
Little Falls got its lone goal nearly three minutes into the first period from CJ Arndt with Kaitlyn Gerads assisting. Zaic tied it up 1:16 later with her unassisted goal and then added two goals in the second period to put the Blue Devils up 3-1.
Lemke closed out the scoring early in the third period with Zaic picking up her fourth point with an assist.
Willmar started strong and didn't let up as the Cardinals scored the game's first eight goals before the Blue Devils scored with just under four minutes left in the game. With 3:52 remaining, Alicia Gorka scored for the Blue Devils to ruin Cardinal netminder Amanda Croonquist's shutout bid.
"We just didn't play to our ability level this evening," Conrad said. "Every team has these once in awhile, and the girls deserve a lot of credit for sticking it out and doing the best they could. We learned a lot about ourselves as a team and we will be better for it."
Willmar got four goals from Chelsey Wierschem and Taylor Sandberg collected five points for the host Cardinals.
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The Blue Devils traveled to Morris-Benson Area on Tuesday.
Redwood Valley at Blue Devils in Long Prairie on Nov. 13
Blue Devils 9, Cardinals 0
Redwood Valley 0 0 0-0
Blue Devils 5 4 0-9
First Period
BD-Jackie Zaic (Samantha Schultz) 2:06
BD-Kayla Wright (Cassie Behl, Alicia Gorka) 5:00
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BD-Behl (Kayla Bjorge) 7:59
BD-Bjorge (unassisted) 11:35 SHG
BD-Zaic (Leah Dykhoff) 14:35
Second Period
BD-Behl (unassisted) 4:44
BD-Gorka (Dykhoff) 9:21
BD-Behl (Schultz) 11:11
BD-Gorka (Schultz) 14:13
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Third Period
No Scoring
Shots on Goal: BD-39; Redwood Valley 4
Goalie-Saves: BD-Kayla Guck 4; Edwards 30
Blue Devils at Little Falls on Nov. 16
Blue Devils 4, Flyers 1
Blue Devils 1 2 1-4
Little Falls 1 0 0-1
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First Period
LF-C.J. Arndt (Kaitlyn Gerads) 2:54
BD-Zaic (unassisted) 4:16
Second Period
BD-Zaic (Behl) 2:28
BD-Zaic (unassisted) 13:48.
Third Period
BD-Samantha Lemke (Zaic) 5:42
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Shots on Goal: BD-20; LF-14
Goalie-Saves: BD-Guck 13, LF-Nhi Dinh 16
Blue Devils at Willmar on Nov. 20
Cardinals 8, Blue Devils 1
Blue Devils 0 0 1-1
Willmar 2 2 4-8
First Period
W-Sarah Hulscher (Alexandra Sing) 3:18 PPG
W-Chelsey Wierschem (Taylor Sandberg) 7:02
Second Period
W-Ashley Hutton (unassisted) 1:54
W-Wierschem (Sandberg) 5:58
Third Period
W-Wierschem (Hutton, Sandberg) 0:57 PPG
W-Wierschem (Hutton, Sandberg) 3:56
W- Sandberg (Erin Sheehan) 10:50
W-Kylee Hulscher (Rebecca Freese) 12:27 PPG
BD-Gorka (Dykhoff) 13:08
Shots on Goal: BD-18; W-34
Goalie-Saves: BD- Guck 9-10-7-26; W-Amanda Croonquist 8-6-3-17
