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After scoring just two points in their season opener against Windom Area, the Luverne Cardinals erupted for eight goals against Redwood Valley Friday at home.
Behind a strong offensive showing, the Cardinals picked up their first win of the season with an 8-5 victory over Redwood Valley.
“The team as a whole played much better hockey on Friday night,” Luverne head coach Phil Paquette said.
“We can’t allow ourselves to get comfortable in that, though. This group will need to work hard to keep improving throughout the season.”
Cade Wenninger opened the scoring for the Cardinals. The senior put one between the pipes at the 14:47 mark to put the Cardinals up 1-0.
Redwood Valley scored the next two goals to take a 2-1 lead.
With 6:59 left in the first period Carlton Oftedahl tied the game at 2-2. Brock Behrend and Wenninger both recorded an assist on the goal.
Redwood Valley opened the scoring in the second period to take a 3-2 lead.
Cooper Arends tied the game back up at 3-3 when he scored a goal at the 13:29 mark in the second period. Behrend recorded the assist on the play.
With 6:40 left in the second period, Behrend scored a power play goal to put Luverne up 4-3.
Oftedahl scored his second goal of the game to bring the Luverne lead to 5-3.
Redwood Valley notched another goal right before the end of the second period to cut Luverne’s lead to 5-4.
Luverne’s Jack Schlosser opened the third period with a goal to put the Cardinals up 6-4 with 15:30 remaining in the game. Zach Kruse recorded the assist.
Behrend scored his second goal of the game to put Luverne up 7-4. Oftedahl recorded the assist on Behrend’s goal.
A few moments after scoring his second goal of the game, Behrend recorded his third goal of the game to put Luverne up 8-4.
Behrend finished the game with three goals and two points. The sophomore now has nine points in two games for the Cardinals.
“Brock’s performance against Redwood Valley was outstanding,” Paquette said.
“He is a very skilled player that can make something happen at any moment. This season he has shown that he’ll go out and create his own opportunities rather than sit back and wait for them. It has been fun to watch his game evolve.”
The Cardinals will hit the road to take on Redwood Valley on Tuesday. They’ll then return home to play host to Minnesota River.