By Nick Gerhardt
The goals came fast and in a flurry Thursday as No. 9-2A-ranked Northfield routed Austin 21-0 at Northfield Ice Area.
Nearly every player had a point in a game that set a school record for most goals scored in a game. A total of 15 players recorded a point in a game where the Raiders (9-0, 4-0 Big 9) put 71 shots on goal while holding the Packers (1-6, 0-4 Big 9) to just four shots.
Northfield senior center Ayla Puppe had a nine-point night with four goals and five assists. Ninth-grade winger Emma Peroutka matched Puppe with four goals of her own. Senior winger Emerson Garlie recorded three goals and an assist. Senior defender and Ohio State recruit Grace McCoshen scored a goal and had two assists. Senior winger Isabelle Stephes recorded a pair of goals and an assist while sophomore defender Mia Miller had four assists.
The Raiders also saw two players record their first career varsity goals. Ninth-grade defender Isabelle Paulson had her first career goal while junior defender Abby Kasal enjoyed her first career goal that she added a second goal in the game to finish with goals and an assist.
Even sophomore goaltender Macy Mueller got into the act by dishing out an assist to Stephes late in the second period to make it 17-0. It gave Mueller her fifth career assist. Taylor Krohn also had a goal while junior defender Olivia Rasmussen chipped in a goal and an assist. Junior winger Emily Beaham had a goal with an assist and ninth-grade defender Lily Jindra notched two assists. Sophomore forward Lindsay Erickson also had an assist.
Mueller stopped all four shots she faced for her fifth shutout of the season.
Northfield started the scoring barrage 2 minutes, 8 seconds into the game on the power play when Puppe scored. Puppe later added another power-play goal and McCoshen had a power-play goal in between. The Raiders led 7-0 after the first period with a 28-2 shots on goal advantage.
Northfield scored 10 goals in the second period as more players got into the act. The Raiders outshot Austin 32-0 in the period. Garlie started the scoring just 10 seconds into the period.
Northfield added four more goals in a running time third period to cap the game.
The Raiders have run roughshod through conference opponents this season. They have outscored opponents 48-2 in four games, including a 15-0 drubbing of Rochester Century Saturday in Rochester.
Northfield heads to Winona (1-5, 1-3 Big 9) Thursday.