Girls hockey: Willmar banks on its experience for improvement

Nov. 14—WILLMAR

— Build off of last year.

That's what the

Willmar girls hockey team

hopes to do this season.

After a 14-12-1 finish and a 5-7-0 record in the Central Lakes Conference in 2022-23, the Cardinals are bracing for another competitive campaign in 2023-24. Willmar made it to the Section 6A semifinals before falling 2-1 to River Lakes last season.

"We want to build off last year, finish in the top half of the conference and have a high seed in the section," Willmar head coach Eric Setrum said. "Those are some goals right in front of us."

A change from last year is that the Cardinals are now in Section 2A. River Lakes also moves into the section. The two teams are joined by Hutchinson, Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato, Mankato West and Minnesota River.

"It's a good section," Setrum said. "It's probably a little deeper than the old section."

Willmar's season is already underway and the Cardinals are off to a solid start.

The Cardinals are 2-0-0 and have out-scored their opponents 7-0. Willmar beat Marshall 2-0 in its season-opener on Thursday and beat Luverne 5-0 on Saturday.

"Most of our players are back and we have a couple of new ones to fill in spots," Setrum said. "We feel pretty good about our chances to be pretty competitive."

Willmar returns the bulk of its roster and the overwhelming majority of its players are upperclassmen. There are eight seniors and four juniors.

"It's probably the oldest team I've had depth wise in quite a while," Setrum said.

The Cardinals return two of their top three scorers from 2022-23 this season. They are Makenna Larson and Chloe Lownsbury.

Larson, a senior defenseman, recorded 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points in 27 games in 2022-23 and has two goals this season. Lownsbury, a senior forward, had a team-high 15 goals to go along with nine assists for 24 points in 27 games and she has an assist so far in 2023-24.

A key cog for Willmar who is not back is Gretchen Volk. The now junior tallied 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 27 games as a sophomore. She is stepping away from hockey to focus on volleyball. The Cardinals also graduated goaltender Halle Mortensen and forward Samantha Poe.

Becca Dawson is another foundation piece who returns as a senior. She has five assists through two games and is coming off a junior season where she had 14 points (five goals, nine assists).

The remaining important pieces in the eight-person senior class are Avery and Sophia Quinn, Macee Hanson, Jayda Richter and Birgit Figenskau.

"We need those girls to lead us," Setrum said of his seniors. "It's a really good group and the junior group is really strong also."

Willmar's juniors are Erin and Lauren Eilers, Avery Olson and Hannah Bredesen.

Erin Eilers returns as the Cardinals' main netminder. A season ago, she held a 7-8-0 record between the pipes with a three shutouts, .930 save percentage and a 2.00 goals against average.

This year, Erin Eilers has back-to-back shutouts to start the season. Brooke Larson, a freshman and sister of Makenna Larson, will serve as her backup.

"Erin has picked up right where she left off last year," Setrum said. "She's got experience. She's confident. She works hard. She's motivated to have a good season.

"She brings a lot to the table and the girls are confident in her."

After taking fifth-place in the Class A cross country championships on Nov. 5

, Lauren Eilers, Erin's sister, has a pair of goals and two assists in two games. She had 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) as a sophomore in 2022-23.

Avery Olson and Hannah Bredesen round out Willmar's junior class. Olson has two points in as many games this year and is coming off a 17-point sophomore season. Bredesen returns to the Cardinals' back-end after an ACL injury sidelined her for the entirety of the 2022-23 season.

Lily Jorgenson and Ella Kubesh are back as sophomores. Joining Brooke Larson in the freshman class are Ryah Gorans, Maya Cameron, Isabella Paulson and Gabrielle Revier.

Revier is a student at BOLD High School. Also from BOLD on Willmar's junior varsity roster are sisters Addelyn and Emersyn Malvin.

"They've been good additions," Setrum said. "They come and work hard and fit in with the girls. It's been a good thing."

Now the Cardinals will look to make a deep postseason run under their veterans.

"That's what we're hoping for and a few of these girls were on the state tournament team so they know what it's like," Setrum said. "Hopefully we can get everybody on the same page in working towards that."

*Home games are in bold*

Nov. 9 — Willmar vs. Marshall (2-0 win)

Nov. 11 — Luverne vs. Willmar (5-0 win)

Nov. 14 — Willmar vs. Hutchinson, 7 p.m.

Nov. 16 — Brainerd/Little Falls vs. Willmar, 7:15 p.m.

Nov. 21 — Willmar vs. River Lakes, 7:15 p.m.

Nov. 30 — Willmar vs. Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato, 7 p.m.

Dec. 2 — Minnesota River vs. Willmar, 2:45 p.m.

Dec. 12 — Alexandria vs. Willmar, 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 14 — St. Cloud vs. Willmar, 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 15 — Willmar vs. Luverne, 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 19 — Willmar vs. Princeton/Big Lake/Becker, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21 — Willmar vs. Fergus Falls, 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 28 — Northern Lakes vs. Willmar, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 4 — Willmar vs. Brainerd/Little Falls, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 6 — Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato vs. Willmar, 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 — River Lakes vs. Willmar, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 11 — Willmar vs. Sauk Rapids, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 16 — Fergus Falls vs. Willmar, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 20 — Willmar vs. Northern Lakes, 2 p.m.

Jan. 23 — Detroit Lakes vs. Willmar, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 25 — Willmar vs. Alexandria, 7:15 p.m.

Jan. 27 — Willmar vs. Mound Westonka/Southwest Christian, 3 p.m.

Jan. 29 — Hutchinson vs. Willmar, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 — Sauk Rapids vs. Willmar, 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 1 — Willmar vs. St. Cloud, 7:15 p.m.