For a sizable portion of Minot's 2-1 loss to Jamestown on Friday night, the Majettes did just about everything they could to disconcert the West Region's primo defender.
The effort was fruitful up until 39 seconds into the third period.
Amber Schaack then took the puck the length of ice, skated around a host of defenders and put it past Minot goalie Sydney Swanson in goal that ultimately decided the contest at Maysa Arena.
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Mike Kraft/MDN
Minot High School junior goaltender Sydney Swanson makes a save with the goalie glove during Friday’s game against Jamestown at Maysa Arena.
"We did a pretty good job of containing her," Minot assistant coach Jason Steele. "But she's a premier player and made a good play. She's somebody you game plan for and worry about."
Jamestown, which outshot Minot 37-20, didn't make things easy for the Magicians in the crease, either.
Carissa Fink had 20 saves on the evening for the Jays, batting away a slew of open looks Mintot was able to generate.
The Majettes' Makaila Anderson, who scored her club's lone goal in the second period, attempted a clean slap shot from 25 feet in the closing seconds that was batted down by Fink.
"We had a couple good shots on goal that we should have capitalized on," Steele said. " But they have a pretty good goalie and she did a good job controlling her rebounds."
Elly Millender's goal late in the first period gave Jamestown the early edge. Minot, however, was forced to shoot from length.
Outside of Anderson's second-period score, Minot found heavy traffic in front of the net.
Jamestown's offensive options aside from Schaack were limited, so it compensated with a gritty defensive effort.
"We don't have a lot of shooters," said Jamestown coach Brad Schaack, Amber's father. "But defensively we clogged the middle up and it's been working."
Minot (3-2) entertains Fargo South today at 2 p.m.