Heavy pressure was applied on the Wadena-Deer Creek/Long Prairie-Grey Eagle net through the first two periods in Thursday's road game for the Detroit Lakes girls' hockey team, which in the end netted a 12-0 lead and an eventual 13-0 blowout victory.
Each of DL forward Callie Johnson and Brianna Seebold had six and five points, respectively, while the Lakers also had some spread out scoring.
Goalie Veronica Roy also notched a solid showing with a shutout on seven saves, as the Lakers pelted the WDC net 50 times.
"It was good to see the girls come out and take control of the game early," said DL head coach Dan Maloney. "It's a credit to our players we got the puck in the net early."
The young W-DC team had a couple of key players out and the Lakers took full advantage of it by scoring three short-handed goals, two by Seebold.
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DL had a 4-0 lead after the first period and extended it to 12-0 after two, then controlled the third with puck movement.
"The first time we played them, we didn't control the entire game and let them back in it," Maloney said. "This time, we were able to play three good periods of hockey."
Roy also was able to stay focused, despite only seeing seven shots come her way.
Johnson finished with a hat trick, Seebold had two goals, while other goal scorers included Emily Payne, Ashley Friesen (two), Shannon Utecht, Heidi Nelson, Brita Johnson and Tiffany Iverson.
The blowout comes at the heels of DL's biggest win in a couple of years against Alexandria last Saturday.
DL lost the first meeting between the two teams 7-0, but rebounded and tagged the No. 8 state ranked Cardinals with a 5-2 loss.
"We haven't been able to beat Alexandria in five seasons and they have been one of the best teams in the section -- if not the state -- through that time," Maloney added. "Our girls just played three solid periods of hockey and they kept their composure in the third period with a 4-1 lead and kept the pressure on."
The Lakers have now won three of their last four games and raised their record to 6-11. They are now in the midst for a top three or four seed in the section.
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"The win over Alex gave the girls some confidence they needed," the DL coach said. "The girls understand that if they can keep their composure, good things happen."
The Lakers will face No. 4 ranked Crookston (12-4) on the road Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. start.
Laker results
Detroit Lakes at Wadena-Deer Creek/Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Thursday, Jan. 13.
Lakers 4 8 1 - 13
WDC/LPGE 0 0 0 - 0
First period -- 1. DL, Callie Johnson (Brianna Seebold); 2. DL, SH Seebold (Johnson); 3. DL, Johnson (Seebold); 4. DL, Emily Payne (Johnson).
Second period -- 5. DL, Ashley Friesen (UA); 6. DL, Friesen (Brita Johnson); 7. DL, Shannon Utecht (UA); 8. DL, SH C. Johnson (UA); 9. DL, SH Seebold (C. Johnson); 10. DL, Heidi Nelson (Utecht); 11. DL, Brita Johnson (Alexis Fritz); 12. DL, Tiffany Iverson (UA).
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Third period -- 13. DL, PP Fritz (Seebold).
Saves -- DL (Veronica Roy) 2 3 2 - 7...WDC/LPGE 15 17 5 - 37.
