Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm's Brody Nordby (16) takes a shot that is blocked by Mankato West's Mason Schreiber (1) during a Section 3A boys hockey semifinals game at Lund Arena in St. Peter.

ST. PETER — A slow second period ended New Ulm’s season as the Eagles lost 3-1 to Mankato West in the Section 3A boys hockey semifinals Saturday at Lund Arena.

The Scarlets scored twice in the period to go up 2-0 going into the third. New Ulm managed one goal in the third on a shot from Brody Nordby, assisted by Ian Brudelie, but West put up one final goal for insurance in the third.

“We came out strong, the problem was we had a broken stick on the defensive end,” New Ulm assistant coach Geoff Torzewski said. “Had to get off and get a new one, and we didn’t have a third one high. They jumped on it. When you have their best player with the puck on his stick and being able to have that much room to go up the ice, it’s tough to beat. That started it there and they got another quick one after that. We settled back in, we did good, but it was too much to overcome.”

Torzewski added that while it wasn’t the end that they wanted, the team had had a good season.

“Great group of kids,” he said. “It’s tough whenever the season ends, whether it’s section or state or whatever. It’s tough to see the end come like that. But it’s a good group of kids that makes it easy to come to the rink every day, and they’re just a fun group to be around.”

New Ulm goaltender Graham Glaser finished with 28 saves and the Eagles put 16 shots on goal.

The first period was quiet for both teams, with West picking up two penalties and killing both. New Ulm took a penalty at the end of the period, but was also able to prevent a goal on the defense.

West had the advantage in shots and possession, however, and on its 13th attempt at the goal, it got one in with a two-one-one fastbreak due to a broken stick that Jaeger Zimmerman was able to capitalize on at 8:26. West added on to that just 37 seconds later as Sean King rifled one in from the right slot to go up 2-0. New Ulm’s Jayden Grunst got an opportunity to strike back late in the period, but a great save from goaltender Mason Schreiber prevented the goal.

New Ulm got on the board at 1:38 of the third period when Nordby finished off a scramble at the net for a goal. However, Zimmerman hit his second shot of the night at 9:31 to put the Scarlets up 3-1. The Eagles pulled the goalie with 40 seconds to play, but nothing came of it as they were sent home with a loss.

New Ulm finishes the season with a 12-13-2 record.