Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm’s Abby Forstner (right) and Madalynn Olson (left) celebrate a goal during a nonconference girls hockey game against Mankato West during New Ulm Hockey Day Saturday at the New Ulm Civic Center.

NEW ULM — New Ulm’s penalty kill energized the team to a 3-1 win over Mankato West in a nonconference girls hockey game Saturday during New Ulm Hockey Day at the New Ulm Civic Center.

“I think what got us going there was killing penalties,” New Ulm head coach Jeremy Reed said. “Up till then we had been a little flat-footed, a little lethargic. When we started killing penalties in the second period, it got our legs going. Once the legs got going, then the energy level took off, the aggressiveness and the energy level really picked up.”

New Ulm got its first goal of the game shorthanded from Madalyn Olson and never looked back.

“That was a big thing to really start getting us going.” Reed said.

Along with Olson’s goal, Mya Hornick had a goal and an assist, while Jersey Haugen had a goal. Brielynn West on and Callie Haugen each added an assist. New Ulm goaltender Ava Brennan saved 24 shots.

The first period was a quiet one for both teams, with opportunities but no goals. Mankato West committed two penalties in the final two minutes of the period, leading to a five-on-three situation for New Ulm, but the Eagles were unable to capitalize.

The first goal of the game came at 3:52 with Mankato West’s Maleah Gieson after a five-minute foul by New Ulm. However, Olson struck back with her breakaway goal, cruising in from the left of the net and sneaking it past the Mankato goaltender at 6:35 of the second. New Ulm added another goal at 13:18 of the second with Hornick cleaning up a scramble in front of the net, assisted by Weston and Callie Haugen.

New Ulm had a few power-play opportunities in the late second and early third, and while the Eagles were unable to connect on a goal, the units still managed to get some good shots on goal.

“We used a couple different units today on the power play,” Reed said. “They were getting some pucks to the net, some good looks. Some of it we have to give to their goaltender [Alayna Smith] who came up with some good saves.”

Jersey Haugen was able to salt the game away with an even-strength goal, assisted by Hornick, at 14:30 of the third. The Scarlets pulled their goalie soon afterward, but two more penalties forced a goalie back into the game as New Ulm came away with the win.

New Ulm (8-10-1) travels to Waseca on Tuesday.