File photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm Molly Scheid launches the puck toward the net during a recent game at the New Ulm Civic Center.

NEW ULM — Ali Beltz recorded a natural hat trick as the New Ulm girls’ hockey team closed out their regular season by blanking Luverne 5-0 on Friday night at the New Ulm Civic Center in a Big South Conference meeting.

Madeline Gag and Ashtyn Wiltscheck added goals as the Eagles enter the postseason with a 14-0 conference mark and a 20-4-1 overall record.

Dani Weiss had three assists with Elle Cooper adding a helper.

New Ulm goalie Cassie Reed had a relatively easy night, stopping all eight Cardinals’ shots.

New Ulm peppered Luverne goalie Emilie Bartels with 40 shots as Bartels stopped 35 of them.

Beltz now has 62 goals this season, which leads the state. She is also first in the state in points with 94.

“I felt that our girls came out with a lot of energy,” New Ulm coach Kristin Faber said. “This was a big night for our seniors (Beltz, Weiss, Lauren Klein and Caleigh Heck). Everyone was pretty hyped up.”

New Ulm wasted little time in the first period, putting three goals past Bartels and not allowing a shot on Reed.

Gag got the Eagles on the board with an unassisted score at the 5:02 mark.

With Luverne on the power play, the Eagles snuck a shorthanded goal by Bartels at the 9:41 mark when Wiltscheck lifted a backhander over the shoulder of the Cardinals senior netminder.

Beltz’s goal would follow with the first of her three consecutive goals beating Bartels with less than a minute remaining in the opening period.

“We were controlling the puck in that period,” Faber said. “We were controlling the offensive zone. We were gaining control of the puck and transitioning up quick and not giving them a chance.”

Beltz got her second goal just 36 seconds into the second period. But despite 14 shots on Bartels, that would be the lone goal of the period for the Eagles.

“I felt that in the last part of the second period and the first part of the third period, we were mishandling pucks,” Faber said.

Beltz got her natural hat trick at the 5:15 mark of the third period on a high wrist shot with linemate Weiss getting the assist.

“She (Beltz) had another great night,” Faber said. “Now goals from her and everyone else become even bigger (with playoffs coming up.)”