ABOVE: Fairmont's Kynlee Beemer wrists a shot on net against the New Ulm Eagles in a Big South Conference girls hockey game Thursday night at Martin County Arena.

FAIRMONT – In a high-speed defensive battle, the Fairmont Cardinals lit the lamp twice against the New Ulm Eagles on Thursday night for a 2-1 victory in a Big South Conference girls hockey game.

“I think we did a nice job,” said Fairmont head coach Aaron Haycraft. “I mean, we knew they’re a fast team, we know they’re quick. Our goal is to forecheck hard and be disciplined in our defensive zone, and I think we did that tonight.”

The Cardinals opened the first period firing on all cylinders, moving the puck tape to tape, gaining the zone and keeping theirs clear. At the two-minute mark in the frame, the Cardinals struck first, going up 1-0 courtesy of a pass from Mariel Parish that found Kennedy Murphy, who flicked it past Eagles goaltender Ava Schmid.

In the fifth minute, a cross-check by forward Abigail Sundeen gave New Ulm its first chance on the power play. Fairmont’s penalty kill unit took to the ice and shut down the power play with their solid defense and back checking proving effective against its opposition. The Cardinals carried the lead into the intermission still up 1-0 despite New Ulm outshooting the Cardinals 7-5.

The second period was a physical affair, with both teams driving hard to the corners and effectively clearing their respective zones. Nine minutes into the second, the Eagles got their second chance with the player advantage from a Kynlee Beemer two-minute minor for slashing. Having adjusted to the defensive game plan of the Fairmont penalty-killers, the Eagles answered with 30 seconds left on the penalty. Tristyn Wolner connected on a pass to Jersey Haugen, who then fed the puck to Isabelle Forstner, who wristed a shot past Cardinals goaltender Alexis Sundeen, tying things up 1-1 and closing out the scoring in the second period.

The third period brought out the intensity of the teams, who began firing on the net, testing the resolve of the keepers.

It was in the sixth minute that the Cardinals offense found a way to pull ahead, this time with a shot from Halyn Haycraft that bounced off Schmid, landing loose in the blue paint. Mariel Parish then tucked the puck into the far side of the net to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead and what would be the game-winning goal.

“That was a complete team win right there,” said Haycraft. “So proud of the girls. Our forwards played great, our [defense] played great, and we had any breakdowns. Sundeen was amazing, picked us up at the end there.”

Alexis Sundeen had 29 saves, while Schmid had 22 saves.

The Cardinals host Austin at 1 p.m. on Saturday.