ABOVE: Fairmont's Kennedy Murphy looks for a shooting lane in a girls hockey game against Mankato West Thursday night in Fairmont.

FAIRMONT – Puck possession was a big factor in the Fairmont Cardinals’ 5-2 win over the Mankato West Scarlets Thursday night, but it was an all-around team effort that inevitably sealed the deal.

“That was a good game by everybody,” said Fairmont head coach Aaron Haycraft. “I think we needed everyone in that game. We needed our goalie to play really, really well, and we only gave up 30 shots. We needed our defense to play really well, and they did, and we needed our forwards to play really well. So really, really good team game there.”

The Cardinals (12-9-1) opened the scoring in the first period with 14 minutes and 17 seconds left on the clock when Halyn Haycraft got loose behind the net, wrapping around and tucking the puck past the keeper, with Alexis Haycraft adding the assist. Fairmont went on the power play two minutes later, courtesy of a high sticking penalty, which was quickly followed up by another penalty that gave them the five-on-three advantage for 19 seconds. Still, they were unable to convert on the advantage.

The Cardinals did give up a shorthanded goal to Mankato West off a shot from the blue line that beat goaltender Alexis Sundeen to tie things up 1-1. With 6:45 remaining in the opening frame, Kennedy Murphy sniped the upper right-hand corner, blocker side of the Scarlets’ goaltender for the second goal of the night, putting the Cards back on top 2-1. Two minutes later Mariel Parish was able to break loose, regain control of the puck and net one blocker side for Fairmont’s third goal of the frame heading into the intermission up 3-1. The Cardinals outshot West 13-7 at intermission.

The Cardinals continued to dominate the puck possession game in the second period keeping Mankato West pinned primarily in their own zone, it wasn’t till the midway point of the period that the Cardinals were able to light the lamp again, this time coming off of a quick Tic-Tac-Toe play from Alexis Haycraft and Halyn Haycraft, after which Mariel Parish cleaned up the rebound putting the puck past a reaching goaltender on the glove side. Fairmont continued outshooting their opponent and went into the second intermission up 4-1.

The Cardinals let off the throttle in the third, taking a penalty that set up Mankato West’s second and final goal of the night. With just under three minutes left in the game, Parish found the back of the net again courtesy of a backhand shot toward the net that found its way underneath the goaltender for Fairmont’s final goal of the night.

Coming away with the win fired up the Cardinals for Friday night’s game against Morris/Benson, who come to the Martin County Arena. The puck drops at 5 p.m.

“Tomorrow’s gonna be a lot of fun,” said Aaron Haycraft. “Especially with the doubleheader game, where we lead it off, and then the boys come in right behind us. It’s gonna be a really fun hockey night.”