Putrah’s Hat Trick Powers Faribault to Victory

Faribault Falcon sophomore Payton Putrah scored the first three goals of the game and added an assist in a 6-0 win over Albert Lea on Thursday night. It was Putrah's first four-point game of the season.

Putrah has 19 goals and 13 assists in 24 games and has scored in 17 of the games. In fact, Faribault has six losses and Putrah has not scored in five of them.

Senior goalie Lauren Werner collected her fifth shutout of the year in the very lopsided contest at Roy Nystrom Arena in Albert Lea. Faribault tallied 47 shots and Albert Lea 17 shots on goal.

After Putrah's two first-period goals, one unassisted the other assisted by Alexis Ferris (8) and Madeline Drevlow (5), Faribault scored four second-period goals.

Putrah got her third 1:30 into the period and just 15 seconds later Olivia Moreland (1) had a goal assisted by Olivia Williamson (10) and Drevlow.

Megan Johnstad (9) had the next goal assisted by Putrah (13) and Ellie Knutson (4) finished the scoring assisted by Drevlow.

Our State Faribault Insurance agents Faribault players of the game were Putrah, Werner, Drevlow and Alexis Ferris.

The only fly in the ointment was the fact all of Faribault's goals were at even strength and they were 0 for 5 on the power play. Albert Lea was 0 for 3 on the power play.

Faribault is 14-4 in the conference and 16-6-2 overall. Albert Lea fell to 2-14-1 in Big Nine action and 3-19-2 overall.

Faribault's win coupled with Owatonna's 8-0 domination of Winona on Thursday in Owatonna sets up a big season finale Saturday in Faribault.

The two teams are tied in the Big Nine standings with 30 points and Falcon head coach Ali Miller believes the game could be for the third seed in the Section 1 Class A playoffs.

In other Big Nine games, John Marshall pulled into a tie with Northfield and Red Wing with a 5-1 win over Austin. Red Wing crushed Mankato West 7-0 and Rochester Mayo edged Mankato East 4-3.

John Marshall, Northfield and Red Wing tie for the Big Nine title with 36 points each. John Marshall is 15-2, Northfield 12-3 and Red Wing 9-3 in league action.