By Johann Schroeer
Coming into Saturday night’s Big 9 matchup, both the Raiders (14-4, 8-2 in Big 9) and the Spartans (13-3-1, 8-1 in Big 9) were riding hot streaks, Northfield having won 4 in a row, and Mayo having won 13 out of their last 14. Both I and play-by-play announcer Jimmy LaRue expected a physical one, and boy did that deliver. The first period was uneventful, and very evenly matched. Each squad had 9 shots on goal, with Goalies Keaton Walock and Nick Weick each doing great in the net. But in the second period, Mayo could not stay out of the penalty box. At the 9:04 mark, 2 Spartans were charged with cross-checking and roughing, causing a 5 on 3 for the Raiders. Northfield wasted no time, as Junior forward Kamden Kaiser buried his team-leading 25th goal from the left circle off a quick pass from Junior defenseman Ty Frank. Later in the Second, Sophomore Forward Andrew Winter scored his 11th goal of the season on a deflection off a pass from Kaiser to put the Raiders up 2-0. Northfield would outshoot Mayo 14-2 in that period. In the final session, a 5 minute major penalty was assessed to a Spartan, but Mayo was able to kill it, preventing any further damage. Walock stayed strong, and Kaiser scored a long empty net goal late in the third period to put the game away. The Raiders defeated the Spartans 3-0, and moved closer to Mayo for the top spot in the Big 9. Kaiser scored 2, Walock had his 6th shutout of the season, and the Raider defense was incredible all night long. Northfield will look forward to Thursday night, where they will play middle-of-the-pack Rochester John Marshall.