ABOVE: Fairmont's Preston Cepress fires a shot on goal in a Big South Conference hockey game against the Austin Packers Saturday at Martin County Arena.

FAIRMONT – Noah Bettin secured his first career point against The Austin Packers courtesy of an assist on a Preston Cepress goal late in the third period in a Big South Conference boys hockey game where the Fairmont Cardinals (0-12) fell to the Austin Packers 9-1 Saturday night.

Clearing the offensive zone was the key issue for the Cardinals in the loss, which allowed the Packers to maintain consistent pressure on the Fairmont defense.

“No one was getting open on our team,” said Fairmont forward Klay Beemer. “So we couldn’t get the puck out and they just had good coverage on us, and we just couldn’t recognize it.”

The strength of the Austin forecheck was a sentiment echoed by the coaching staff after the game and something that the Cardinals will have to address heading into the rest of the season.

“They had a really good forecheck,” said Fairmont head coach Dylan VanBrocklin. “I mean any time that we would get the puck they were right on us giving us no time and with that no time we were making too many mistakes. We had a decent first period that was really nice to see. The second period definitely hurt us, but it was nice to come back in that third period. And they didn’t give up. They skated hard. they kept pushing.”

The first period was a defensive battle between the two teams. The Cardinals backcheck found continued success in shutting down any offensive pressure from the Packers. With 3:58 on the clock, Fairmont got a chance with the man advantage from a tripping penalty. However, despite it being a five-on-four situation, the Packers’ Grady Carney broke through the power play unit of the Cardinals, netting the short-handed goal and took the lead 1-0 to end the opening frame outshooting Fairmont 17-5.

Down a goal opening the second period, the Cardinals tried to get the offense going, but the forecheck of the Packers was able to keep Fairmont pinned in its zone. Austin consistently won battles in the corners and disrupted the passing as the Cardinals tried to move past the blueline. The Packers were able to net seven goals in the second courtesy of two from forward Cooper Jacobsen, one from Elijah Krueger, Carney’s second of the night, one from Kyler Flanders and a powerplay goal from Gahvin Schaefer putting the Packers up 8-0 heading into the third period and outshooting the Cardinals 40-8.

The Fairmont defense regained its composure in the third and final frame of the game, going back to the defensive stalemate featured in the first period. In the final three minutes of the game, Austin scored for going up 9-0 off the stick of Trent Rubin. The Cardinals broke out of their zone and found space in the offensive end when Preston Cepress managed to tuck a shot past the Packers’ goaltender for their first and only goal of the night.

The Cardinals host Morris/Benson at 7 p.m. on Friday.