Photo by Jake Przytarski Marshall’s Tessa Gannott skates with the puck during their game against Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato on Saturday. The Tigers defeated the Dragons 3-0.

MARSHALL – A rock-solid effort between the pipes by goaltender Alexis Moat and a pair of first-period goals by Kaitlyn Timm provided the recipe for success for the Marshall girls hockey team and pushed the club to its first win of the season with a 3-0 shutout over Litchfield-Dassel-Cokato.

After the game, Marshall coach Cassi Weiss praised the work of her goaltender for making key saves when the team needed them.

“She tracked the puck really well and was there to make those big saves when we needed them,” said Weiss.

Early on in the first period, the Tigers would need those big saves by Moat as the Dragons opened up the game with multiple scoring chances but came up empty time and time again with Moat slamming the door for Marshall. Continuing to press, the Dragons drew a tripping penalty midway through the period looking to capitalize on the man-advantage with a go-ahead goal.

On the first of five successful penalty kills on the afternoon, the Tigers aggressively challenged the Dragon puck carriers and forced a turnover that left Timm with only the goalie to beat on a breakaway. With a nifty forehand-backhand move, Timm fooled the goalie and put the puck in the back of the net to put the Tigers in front 1-0.

According to Weiss, the shorthanded goal was a confidence booster for the team that helped carry them the rest of the way through.

“We did a really good job putting pressure on early on the first penalty kill,” said Weiss. “I think it gave us the confidence that we could do it, and it really brought us to the next level and helped us win the game.”

Following the tally by Timm, the Tigers generated a flurry of scoring opportunities from Olivia Peterson and Sydney Mauch before Timm struck again to push the lead to 2-0 where it would remain into the third period.

In the final 17 minutes of play, the Dragons relentlessly battled to end the shutout but were unable to get any shots through thanks to strong stickwork from the Tigers defensive core. On the forecheck, the Tiger forwards remained determined to add a third goal to put the game out of reach. Nearing the 13-minute mark of the third period, the Tigers would get that crucial goal on a beautiful feed from Emilia Barker who found Tessa Gannott all alone in front of the net where she proceeded to bury the puck for the first goal of her career to make it 3-0.

Unable to answer in the final minutes of play, Moat held on to the shutout and finished with 16 saves on the afternoon. Timm finished the contest with two points on two goals to make it four through two games. Mauch, Kalyn DeVlieger and KC Boerboom all picked up an assist in the victory while Gannott added the third and final goal.

The Tigers will return to action for their third game of the season when they hit the road to take on Prairie Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Looking ahead, Weiss is hopeful that her team can play with more consistency through all three periods of the game.

“I think playing three solid 17-minute periods is what we’re going to work on for next Tuesday,” said Weiss.