Proof was in the pudding as the Crookston girls' hockey team proved their Class 1A No. 4 ranking after a 12-2 rout of Detroit Lakes Tuesday.
"What can you say?" said DL head coach Dan Maloney. "They are that good of a team. Our thing was to stay determined throughout the game and try and improve."
Crookston came out fast, scoring four goals in the first period, then continued with five in the second and three in the third.
Lexy Wangen and Shannon Kaiser each recorded a hat tricks for the Pirates (13-7), while five other players notched goals, as well.
The Lakers (5-14-1) broke their goose egg on forward Hayley Maloney's goal, after digging it out of Crookston goalie Rachel Biermaier's glove in the second period.
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Callie Johnson also rang up an unassisted goal at the 7:25 mark in the third for DL's second and final goal.
DL nearly upended Fergus Falls Saturday, after each the first and second periods by 2-1 and 3-2 margins.
But the Otters (9-10) stormed back in the third for four goals and the 6-3 win.
"We battled with them for three periods and the girls played very determined," Maloney said. "We just need to use this as a building block and I saw good improvement in that game."
Scoring for DL were Brianna Seebold, Emily Payne and Johnson.
DL will play host to Thief River Falls (5-11) Friday at 7:30 p.m.
