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FAIRMONT - Freshman center Callie Hansen's peripheral vision and stick-handling skills filled the Redwood Valley coaching staff's pre-game needs on Saturday.

Hansen earned a playmaker by distributing three assists and chipped in a goal to engineer the visiting Cardinals' 4-1 non-league hockey victory over the Fairmont Area Cardinals at Martin County Arena.

"Our players are so unselfish that, at times, they actually pass too much instead of looking to take the shot," said Redwood Valley head coach Dennis Spielmann. "Today, we made the most of our chances and capitalized during the second (period)."

Dennis Spielmann's post-game words rang as true as junior wing Emmaly Spielmann's back-to-back goals during a 12-second span in the middle segment.

After Fairmont Area goaltender Jess Wiederhoeft and Redwood Valley netminder Sierra Wagner each stonewalled their respective opposing offenses during the first frame, the visiting Cardinals took advantage of a power-play opportunity with 10 minutes remaining in the second period.

Callie Hansen zig-zagged through neutral ice before delivering a pinpoint lead pass to Emmaly Spielmann along the right wing. Spielmann squeezed the puck through a sliver of space between Wiederhoeft and the right post for a power-play goal and 1-0 Redwood Valley lead.

Junior wing Hannah Leopold triggered the Mercurial even-strength goal by swiping the puck, before flipping a pass to Callie Hansen. Hansen skidded a pass to Spielmann, who chipped home a left-side close-range shot for a 2-0 lead at the 9:48 juncture.

Fairmont Area, however, answered two and a half minutes later to slice its deficit in half.

Brooke Spear skated past a Redwood Valley defender along the left boards before delivering a crossing pass to teammate Chelsea Ehlert. Ehlert chipped the puck past Wagner to inch the hometown Cardinals within 2-1 with 7:14 left in the second period.

Unfortunately, Wagner denied Fairmont Area access to the net for the next 24:14 to pocket the victory between the pipes.

Callie Hansen literally had a hand in adding a pair of insurance goals for the visiting Cardinals to close out the second frame.

Hansen nearly squeezed home an odd-angled shot just right of the right-side post before Kelsey Joines swatted home the loose carom at the 3:55 juncture.

The swift-skating Hansen then jetted down the middle of the ice to track down Spielmann's precision lead pass before flipping a quick-wrister past Wiederhoeft for Redwood Valley's fourth goal with only 48 seconds remaining in the second segment.

Alexa Mowery, who made the transition from defense to offense during the intermission, and Johanna Hinz paced Fairmont Area's 11-6 shots-on-goal edge during the third period, but Wagner proved worthy of the challenge by pitching a shutout over the final 17 minutes.

Wagner recorded 26 saves to net the win, while Wiederhoeft made 22 stops on the game for Fairmont Area.

Fairmont Area (2-14-2, 0-4-1 SCC) travels to Le Sueur today to face St. Peter/Le Sueur-Henderson in a 7 p.m. makeup game.

R. Valley 0-4-0-4

Fairmont 0-1-0-1

SCORING PLAYS

1st Period

No Scoring.

2nd Period

RV - Emmaly Spielmann (Callie Hansen), pp., 10:00.

RV - Spielmann (C. Hansen), 9:48.

F - Chelsea Ehlert (Brooke Spear), 7:14.

RV - Kelsey Joines (C. Hansen), 3:55.

RV - C. Hansen (Spielmann), 0:48.

3rd Period

No Scoring.

Shots-on-goal: Redwood Valley 8-12-6-26; Fairmont Area 6-10-11-27.

Saves: Jess Wiederhoeft (FA) 8-8-6-22; Sierra Wagner (RV) 6-9-11-26.

Penalties: Fairmont 3 for 6 minutes; Redwood Valley 3 for 6 minutes.

Power-Play Chances: Redwood Valley 1-for-3; Fairmont Area 0-for-3.

Boys hockey

Redwood Valley 6, Fairmont Area 1 - Eric Hanson scored two goals and added an assist to lead the host Cardinals to a 6-1 nonconference win over the visiting Cardinals on Saturday in Redwood Falls.

Brett Amberg added a goal and two assists for the victors, while Eric Miller netted a goal and an assist.

Jacob Hansen and Nick Verdoes added Redwood Valley's other goals.

Luke Sandersfeld scored for Fairmont Area via a Dan Cole assist at 8:22 of the first frame.

Ryan Rivers netted 42 saves in Redwood Valley's 48 shots on goal, while John Rebstock had 21 saves for the hosts.

Fairmont Area (6-14, 2-4) travels to Windom Area on Thursday.

Fairmont 1 0 0 - 1

R. Valley 2 1 3 - 6

SCORING PLAYS

1st Period

RV - Eric Miller (Eric Hanson), 16:36.

RV - Brett Amberg (unassisted), 10:07.

FA - Luke Sandersfeld (Dan Cole), 8:22.

2nd Period

RV - Hanson (Amberg), 5:27.

3rd Period

RV - Hanson (Miller), 16:13.

RV - Jacob Hansen (Amberg), 15:40.

RV - Nick Verdoes (unassisted), 8:21.

Shots on goal: Fairmont Area 22; Redwood Valley 48.

Saves: Ryan Rivers (FA) 42. John Rebstock (RV) 21.

Penalties: Fairmont Area 4 for 8 minutes; Redwood Valley 6 for 12 minutes.