Thies’ late goal helps Apple Valley hold off New Ulm
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NEW ULM -- Jordyn Thies' rebound off an Avery Ryan shot with just 35 seconds left in the game broke a 1-1 tie and gave Apple Valley a 2-1 win over New Ulm Saturday afternoon in a nonconference girls hockey game at the New Ulm Civic Center.
The loss was New Ulm's third 2-1 loss this season and fourth loss by one goal.
Michelle Smith scored the lone goal for New Ulm, now 6-8-1 on the season. Afton Hulke and Maddie Olson had assists on Smith's goal.
Eagles goalie Ava Brennan was again solid in the nets, stopping 31 of 33 Apple Valley shots.
Apple Valley netminder Finley Engler had an easier day, stopping 16 of 17 New Ulm shots.
"This was a 2-1 loss to a very good opponent," New Ulm head coach Jeremy Reed said about the 9-5-1 Apple Valley, a Class AA team of the South Suburban Conference that beat New Ulm 8-2 last year. "This was one of the best teams that we have played this season. So there were a lot of good things to come away with -- this was our third game in three days. But very proud of the effort."
Apple Valley took a 1-0 lead at the 2:10 mark of the first period on a Makayla Moran goal.
But that would be the only goal that Brennan allowed until Thies' eventual game-winner 47 minutes later.
"Ava [Brennan] was outstanding in the nets," Reed said. "She saw the puck well."
New Ulm was outshot 22-11 in the first two periods.
But in the third period, the Eagles started to get pucks to the Apple Valley net and they did outshooting Apple Valley 11-6 in the third period.
"We wanted to simplify things -- keep it simple -- put pucks on the net and go for rebounds," Reed said.
And New Ulm did finally get to Engler when Michelle Smith tied the game at 52 seconds of the third period.
Hulke, who had an assist on the goal, said that they talked about attacking the puck more in that third period.
"We wanted to create those offensive chances," she said.
"It is sad that we lost, but we did so many good things well."
New Ulm hosts Waseca on Friday night before a Hockey Day New Ulm home game Saturday against Marshall.