FAIRMONT — Kaylan Legred and Tanner DeWar combined equally for four points in the Fairmont Area Cardinals’ 5-1 win over the Morris/Benson Area Storm during nonconference hockey action Saturday.

“They’re having a good time with it and enjoying it right now,” Cardinals head coach Kris Olson said about his team’s second consecutive win. “We definitely had a hard practice to get focused (Friday). Right when we stepped on that ice (Friday) is when we started playing this game, so that was a big part of our ‘W’ today.”

Legred started the Cardinals’ scoring with a goal at the 10:32 mark of the first frame. Legred weaved between two Storm skaters and swiped in a goal just past goalie Tony Bruns.

“Kaylan Legred had a goal last game and another goal this game, so for having a two-year drought, he’s getting his game back together,” Olson said.

Cardinals defender Leyton Becker sent the puck flying in the first minute of the second for a goal attempt, but was wide right.

With 13:24 remaining in the period, forward Tanner DeWar was assessed a two-minute penalty for elbowing. No sooner than he got out of the box, DeWar scored the team’s second goal off an assist from Kaylan Legred.

The Cardinals tried to increase their lead two more times in the final 30 seconds, but Bruns turned away both tries. The team made up for it, scoring three in the third.

“(It started with) our ability to get that third line out in the second period and get the 1-2 lines their break, especially when the other team is only playing two lines. Then, you can get your legs back under you, get those breaks,” Olson said about the team’s third-period scoring surge.

“It seems like a small break, but in this game, it’s huge.”

Within the first minute of the final period, senior wing Tyler Head connected with senior center Bryan Karp, and Karp netted the short score for a 3-0 advantage.

Tony Nuss scored his first varsity goal at the 11:14 juncture to increase the Cardinals’ lead. DeWar assisted on the score.

Kellen Erdahl scored three minutes later with the assist from Ashford Swenson to prevent the shutout for MBA. Forward Sam Welker-Mensing answered with a score to give the Cardinals the 5-1 win.

The last time the Cardinals and Storm teams played, Geerdes notched a shutout in his first varsity start. In his second start Saturday, the freshman made 21 saves.

“Tyson Geerdes with one heck of a game today. He doesn’t make some of those saves in the first period, we’ve got a totally different game, so he did great,” Olson said.

Fairmont Area (5-11) hosts St. Peter/ LeSueur-Henderson at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

MBA        0-0-1–1

FA            1-1-3–5

1st Period

FA — Kaylan Legred (unassisted), 10:32.

2nd Period

FA — Tanner DeWar (Kay. Legred), 11:15.

3rd Period

FA — Bryan Karp (Tyler Head), 16:26.

FA — Tony Nuss (DeWar), 11:14.

MBA — Kellen Erdahl (Ashford Swenson), 8:06.

FA — Sam Welker (unassisted), 4:58.

Shots on goal: 19-13-13–45; Morris/Benson Area 10-9-3–22.

Saves: Tony Bruns (MBA) 18-12-10–40; Tyson Geerdes (FA) 10-9-2–21.