By: The Sports Guy
Proctor Journal

Proctor-Hermantown-Marshall has played Cloquet-Esko-Carlton three times total since the two teams took the ice for the Section 7AA final at the Heritage Center last February. The first game this season—like the 4-2 section final—was won by the Lumberjacks 4-1 with exceptional goaltending by Sarah Gustafson. In the third game, the second this season, Gustafson, one of the best goaltenders in the state, again worked her magic with 39 saves. But this time PHM found the net.

Behind 2 goals by senior Hannah Buchite, the Mirage answered an initial Lumberjacks goal in the first 2 minutes with 2 scores later in the first period. The second period was a replay, with CEC scoring another early goal to tie and PHM answering with 2 more later in the period. The Lumberjacks got one more relatively early in the third period, but it was too little, too late as the Mirage held on for the 4-3 win at home. Senior Julia Gilbert had a stick in three of the four Mirage scores. Gilbert had 1 goal and 2 assists.

PHM scoring, 1st: Buchite; and Buchite (Gilbert). 2nd: Steph Strapple (Nikki Mathews, Gilbert); and Gilbert (Emma Stauber). Anja Morris had 17 saves in goal for the Mirage.