Sports

Stars split with tough opponents

By Tyler Ohmann

02/04/2014

A split with two of the top teams in the league leaves the Bottineau 19U hockey team still among the top teams.

The Stars were shutout on Saturday as they hosted the Richland Rangers from Sidney, Mont., and fell 4-0.

Goaltender Jacie Ceglowksi played strongly as the Rangers enjoyed a decided advantage in shots on goal. The Stars were held scoreless for just the fifth time this season.

It was the second time the two teams met this season, and the second time that the Rangers have come away with a victory over the Stars.

Richland beat Bottineau 3-1 back on Jan. 24 in Sidney.

The Stars bounced back with a huge 2-1 victory over a very strong Crosby team on Sunday afternoon at the Bottineau Community Arena.

Erin Severson was the hero for the Stars as she scored both goals on the day.

The first of her goals came in the second period as she slammed home a shot after a scramble in front of the Crosby net. It tied the game at one.

Severson earned the game-winning goal on a rebound goal in the third period. Karlee McCloud and Alexis Kihle both earned assists on the second goal as McCloud hit Kihle, who shot the puck on net, and Severson hammered in the rebound.

“We survived a good push from Crosby to pick up the win including a 5-on-3 advantage in the final two minutes of play,” stated 19U head coach Matt Johnson.

Bottineau had six penalties in the game, which nearly spelled their demise.

The Stars are now 11-9-2 on the season, but Johnson said that all the teams that are in the top half of the standings have a shot come playoff time.

“It is shaping up that almost anyone in the top seven or eight of the league can come away with a win or the other,” Johnson stated. “Sidney may be the best team right now but it is a very even league at the top of the standings.”

Bottineau remains at home this weekend as they will play host to three teams from the east.

First on Saturday the Stars will play at 12:15 p.m. against West Fargo. At 4:30 p.m. the Stars will do battle with Mayport. Lastly, on Sunday the Stars will play Fargo at 12:15 p.m.

Fargo is just ahead of Bottineau in the league standings.