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PREP BOYS HOCKEY: No. 2 Marshall skates past No. 7 Willmar

Photo by Gary Kaczmarek Marshall’s Logan Tomasek fires a shot toward the net in the first period of the Tigers’ first round game against Willmar in the Section 3A tournament Thursday. The senior defensemen scored on the play, and it proved to be the difference as Marshall beat Willmar 1-0.

MARSHALL–The No. 2 seed Marshall Tigers snuck by the pesky No. 7 Willmar Cardinals in the Section 3A quarterfinals Thursday night, 1-0.

In a defensive battle, Marshall’s defensemen Logan Tomasek scored the game’s only goal at the 8:10 mark in the first period. The goal was Tomasek’s first goal of his career.

On the play, Tomasek was just trying to keep the puck under control.

“The puck was floppy around a lot so my first instinct was to settle it down,” said Tomasek. “Then I looked up and shot it. I didn’t know it went in until my teammates turned around and looked at me. I was shocked.”

Marshall’s Mason Plante had the assist on the goal.

On a night defense reigned, Marshall’s coach Michael Weiss knew the goal was important.

“It was a huge goal,” said Weiss. “In a big game is sometimes comes down to guys getting their first goals and having them be big ones.”

The Tigers were able to get 10 shots on goal in the first period to just four for Willmar. Both goalies played big roles in the game.

“I thought both goalies did a great job tonight,” said Weiss. “Trey (Nelson) and Willmar’s goalie both made huge saves. It was an exciting game.”

In the second period, both teams had a tough time getting control of the puck in their opponent’s zone. The two teams combined for just 13 shots on goal.

Three penalties kept things interesting in the period. Two were on Marshall, the first was roughing 5:11 into the period. Jackson Luther was called for elbowing at the 10:27 mark for Marshall’s second penalty of the period.

The third period went back and forth with limited scoring opportunities. Willmar pulled their goalie and had a furious attack at the end.

However Nelson’s glove save with 1:08 left was just enough to make Marshall victorious.

Coach Weiss was pleased with his senior goalie’s performance.

“I think it will give him a lot confidence going forward,” said Weiss. “He’s played really well this year. He has made some big saves when he needs to and he stays calm in net. He never panics or makes us worry too much.”

Marshall had 24 shots on goal for the game and Willmar had 16.

“I have to give them (Willmar) credit, they are a really good team,” said Tomasek. “The biggest thing we wanted to do was play defense first and get it across the line and dump it. I thought both teams played really well.”

Marshall (18-7-1) will face the No. 6 Redwood Valley Cardinals (15-12) in the semifinals on Monday at 8 p.m. The game will be played in St. Peter on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus in Lund Arena.

“We need to train hard, that’s it,” said Tomasek. “We need to focus on what we need to do and play hard on Monday.”

WIL 0 0 0–0

MAR 1 0 0–1

SCORING SUMMARY

First Period

MAR: Tomasek, 8:10 (Plante).

Second Period

No Scoring

Third Period

No Scoring

PENALTIES

First Period

WIL: Broman, 11:31 (Delay of Game, 2:00)

Second Period

MAR: Bell, 5:22 (Roughing, 2:00)

WIL: Jeffords, 7:41 (Tripping, 2:00)

MAR: Luther, 10:27 (Elbowing, 2:00)

Third Period

No Penalties

SHOTS ON GOAL: MAR 24, WIL 16

SAVES: MAR: Nelson 16, WIL: Johnson 23

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