ICY PURSUIT — Fairmont Area’s Brooklyn Meyer (3) pursues the puck during Big South Conference hockey action Tuesday night at Martin County Arena in Fairmont. Cardinals’ goaltender Hadley Artz (far background) and defender Macy Militello (5), along with Windom Area’s Ellyson Bang (11) watch the action. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — One minute and 36 seconds.

Windom Area center Presley Dockter tallied half of the Eagles’ total goals during that miniscule amount of time bridging the second and third periods to double up the Fairmont Area Cardinals, 4-2, during Tuesday night’s Big South Conference hockey clash at Martin County Arena.

“To allow a goal only (16) seconds after going ahead 2-0 is such a momentum-changer,” said Fairmont Area head coach Ashley Olson. “Our players now see that all it takes is a minute and a half to change a game’s entire outlook.

“I thought we did a number of positive things tonight, and while we lost, it was not for a lack of effort. We just need to keep working.”

Senior wing Brooklyn Meyer and junior defender Alexis Newville combined to stake the Cardinals to a two-goal lead, while sophomore goaltender Hadley Artz had pitched a shutout by stopping 25 consecutive Eagle shots on net to that juncture of the defensive-oriented contest.

“I thought our power-play (unit) did a good job of converting a couple of times during the second period,” said Olson.

Meyer unleashed a blast from the left point during the Cardinals’ one-skater advantage as Eagles’ netminder Kaylie Baerg recorded the block. Alexis Newville alertly chipped the rebound into the webbing from the left doorstep to stake Fairmont Area to a 1-0 lead with 14:55 remaining in the second frame.

The Cardinals cashed in another power-play chance with 1:41 showing on the scoreboard in the middle period. Emily Sokoloski and Alexis Newville combined on a double-assist as Meyer lined home a one-timer from near the blue line for a 2-0 edge.

Unfortunately for Fairmont Area, before Meyer’s goal reached the speaker via the public address announcer, Lyvia McManigle knocked home a goal 16 seconds later out of a scrum near the crease to whittle Windom Area’s deficit to 2-1.

Presley Dockter then took a pass from Elly Bang and uncorked a rising liner from the left point for the equalizing goal with only 26 seconds remaining in the second frame. The goal was the Eagles’ only score via the power play.

Marissa Becker then beat the second-period horn by tapping home a left-to-right wrister that found the net just before the time hit double zeroes on the scoreboard.

Unfortunately for the home team, Presley Dockter cashed in a perfect crossing pass from Elly Bang off the opening faceoff in the third period to extend the Eagles’ edge to 4-2 with 16:49 remaining in regulation.

Presley Dockter, Meakin Bang and Madelyn Schumacher, along with Baerg, combined to fend off the Cardinals’ 5-on-3 advantage midway through the third period to preserve the win.

Artz recorded a game-best 33 saves to close within six of 300 stops on the current campaign for the Cardinals.

Baerg turned away 20 shots — including second-period blasts by Mackenzie Householder and Jozie Hoefker — to net the win between the pipes for the Eagles.

Fairmont Area (3-8) travels to Benson on Friday night for a 6 p.m. faceoff with Morris Benson Area.

Windom Area (4-8) plays host to Minnehaha United at 3 p.m. Saturday in Windom.

Windom 0-3-1–4

Fairmont 0-2-0–2

Scoring Plays

1st Period

No scoring.

2nd Period

FA–Alexis Newville (Brooklyn Meyer), PP, 14:55.

FA–Brooklyn Meyer (Alexis Newville, Emily Sokoloski), PP, 1:41.

WDM–Lyvia McManigle (unassisted), 1:25.

WDM–Presley Dockter (Elly Bang), PP, 0:26.

WDM–Marissa Becker (unassisted), 0:00.

3rd Period

WDM–Presley Dockter (Elly Bang), 16:49.

Shots on goal: Windom Area 10-19-8–37; Fairmont Area 8-8-6–22.

Saves: Hadley Artz (FA) 33; Kaylie Baerg (WDM) 20.

Penalties: Windom Area 8 for 16 minutes; Fairmont Area 3 for 6 minutes.

Power-play chances: Fairmont Area 2 for 8; Windom Area 1 for 3.