File photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm Eagles goalie Ava Schmid stops a shot during a girls hockey game against Luverne earlier this season on Nov. 20 at the New Ulm Civic Center. Schmid stopped 67 shots on Friday night against Dodge County.

NEW ULM — The Dodge County Wildcats are ranked second in girls Class A hockey for several reasons.

They score goals, do not allow a lot of shots and are quick.

And they are very good.

The Wildcats fired 74 shots on New Ulm goaltender Ava Schmid, with seven finding the back of the net as Dodge County topped New Ulm 7-1 Friday night at the New Ulm Civic Center in a nonconference game.

Alexa Van Straaten and Maysie Koch each had two goals for Dodge County.

While Dodge County had 74 shots on net, the Eagles managed just two in the game but one of them — a shot by Brecklyn Harazin — found the back of the net at the 5:51 mark of the second period.

It was also the first shot on net in the game for the Eagles, who fell to 3-5-1 on the season. Jersey Haugen got the assist on the goal.

“There is a reason why they are ranked number two in Class A,” New Ulm head coach Derek Johnson said. “As much as we have made strides they showed us weaknesses — we still have some work to do.”

Dodge County jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first period on goals from Ashtyn Praxel, Kylie Meyer, Maysie Koch and Zoe Heimer.

It was also a period where the Wildcats outshot the Eagles 22-0.

“I do not know if our girls were nervous or what in that first period, but we did settle down in that second period,” Johnson said.

Both teams scored goals in the second period.

Harazin’s power-play goal at the 5:51 mark was the first shot on net, beating Faith Humphrey with a high backhander before the Wildcats Maysie Koch made it 5-1 five minutes later.

“I thought that we settled down in the second period,” Johnson said. “And the third period had a lot of penalties — there was not any rhythm to that period.”

Dodge County added two more goals in the third period where New Ulm was outshot 27-1.

“Dodge County played well defensively — we only had two shots on net,” he said. “But I still see improvement in each game.”

Johnson said that he was pleased with the play of Schmid in net.

“We have our internal Player of the Game that we do in the locker room and Ava got it tonight,”Johnson said. “She gave up seven goals, but facing 74 shots, that is not easy.”

The Eagles host Minnesota River Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the New Ulm Civic Center in a Big South Conference game.