Staff photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm’s Mckenna Strong gets past Emelia Barker (4) of Marshall durign the first period Friday at the New Ulm Civic Center.

NEW ULM — Maddi O’Connor scored two, second-period goals as the New Ulm Eagles girl’s hockey team jumped to a 2-0 second-period lead over Marshall and went on to top the Tigers 2-1 Friday night at the New Ulm Civic Center in a Big South Conference game.

Julia Helget and Brooke Arneson added assists for the Eagles.

New Ulm goaltender Ava Brennen was solid in the nets, stopping 32 of 33 Marshall shots.

“We played a whole lot better tonight then we did Tuesday,” New Ulm coach Kristin Faber said. “Our pace was higher and I was overall pleased with the way that Ava played especially in the second and third periods when she made some key saves. And our forwards did a much better job on the forecheck and getting into the zone and controlling the puck. I felt that our defense played better and at times we were able to break out a lot better.”

After a scoreless first period that saw the Eagles outshooting Marshall 16-9, New Ulm got on the board twice in the second period on two O’Connor goals.

The first one came on the Eagles’ 21st shot on goal in the game as she beat Marshall netminder Emma Klenken at the 4:42 mark before O’Connor upped the lead to 2-0 with Arneson getting the assist.

“Maddi had a great game — that whole line played well,” Faber said. “Both of our lines played well and worked hard. They cycled the puck around. On O’Connor’s second goal, Brooke [Arneson] created a great screen out front and the puck found a way into the net.”

New Ulm remains in Big South Conference action Tuesday when it travels to Marshall.