Updated at: 01/26/2010 10:27 PM | KSAX.com

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Cardinal Mens Hockey Battle on Jan. 26

ALEXANDRIA, Minn.- When you look at these two teams on paper they match up really well. Willmar comes into the contest at 10-5 while Alexandria nips at their heels at 9-5.

Tonight the key to tip the scale in one Cardinals favor would be who could perform on offense.

"Make simple plays and just get it to the net" Alexandria Head Coach Scott Woods explains. "The other thing we need to do is we need to start finishing our rebounds. We outshoot almost every team we play and were not finishing and getting it in the net. We need to get those so called garbage goals and bang in rebounds."

"Obviously Alexandria is a very strong hockey team. They have been very good in the section for the past couple years. I think putting a lot of shots on net I know they've been struggling in the goal a little bit lately, scouting report says shoot the puck a lot" Willmar Assistant Coach Reed Larson says.

For the majority of the game it was back and forth as you would expect. Willmar lit the lamp first with a shot from the point by Tyler Bredeson that was tipped by Lliam Johnston to give Willmar the 1-0 lead.

Alexandria would respond later in the first with a rebound goal by senior captain Thomas Williams to to knot things up at 1-1.

Alexandria would strike again with Williams contributing an assist to Ross Thompson in the slot who would beat Ben Leitch far side to give Alexandria the go ahead goal.

Early in the second Willmar would find the back of the net with a well fought goal by Grant Schow who would take a shot then dive to grab his own rebound beating Eric Murphy to even things up at 2-2.

From then on Alexandria would hop in the drivers seat scoring three unanswered goals and go on to win 5-2.

Both Alexandria and Willmar hit the ice on Jan. 28. Alexandria will be playing St. Cloud Apollo and Willmar will take on Brainerd/Pillager/Pierz.

Written for the web by Tony Seeman

aseeman@ksax.com