By John Rittenhouse
The Luverne girls' hockey team stumbled out of the blocks to start the 2001-02 season by taking an 8-0 drubbing in New Ulm Tuesday.
Eagle goalie Jenny Neveln blanked the Cardinals by making 13 saves, and the New Ulm offense peppered LHS net-minder Bethany Rosenberg with 35 shots overall while scoring at least two goals in every period.
Ashley Dietz and Nikki Williams scored a combined six goals to lead the assault turned in by the Eagles.
Dietz found the net four times, including a three-goal effort in the second period. Williams scored goals in the game's first and third periods.
Dietz opened the scoring 1:41 into the game with an unassisted tally.
Williams scored her first goal at the 5:10 mark of the opening stanza, and New Ulm's Jocelyn Janni added a tally 25 seconds later to make it a 3-0 game.
With Dietz scoring three goals in a 10-minute span in the second period, New Ulm opened a commanding 6-0 advantage.
Eagle Angie Seifert found the net at the 11:03 mark of the third period before Williams ended the scoring with her second goal that came with 4:02 left to play.
Luverne, which had five shots in the first and third periods and two in the second, will open the home portion of its schedule at 2 p.m. Saturday against Mankato East. The Cards host Fairmont at 7 p.m. Tuesday.