FAIRMONT — The Fairmont Area Cardinals hockey literally quieted the storm on Saturday at Martin County Arena. Defender Myah Lytle handling the Cardinals’ scoring to notch the 2-0 victory over the Morris/Benson Area Storm during non-league action in Fairmont.

The Cardinals started the day with a strong defensive effort, keeping the Storm out of Cardinal territory. On the offensive end, the Cardinals were unable to score until the final minute of the opening period.

The Storm and Cardinals battled for the puck, which slipped out of the scrum. Lytle got to the puck before anyone else and lined it down the middle for the 1-0 score with 44 seconds to go in the frame.

“She’s been playing really aggressively on the point, keeping the puck inside the blue line and blocking the puck. When she has the opportunity (to score), she’s finally started to capitalize on it, so that’s great,” Cardinals head coach Ashley Olson said about Lytle.

The Storm only had two shots on goal during the first period, but matched that in the first minute of the second period. Even still, Cardinals goalie Emily O’Connor rejected all nine shots of the period.

With 11:31 left in the period, eighth-grade forward Brooklyn Meyer passed right to Lytle, who found enough open net to mark the Cardinals’ second score. Lytle tried for another goal in the final three seconds, but Storm goalie Abbey Hoffman caught the puck.

The Storm attempted the comeback in the final period and totaled nine shots on goal, but O’Connor denied each attempt en route to the shutout. Eighth-grade forward Libbey Pendill had her chance at the 6:49 mark when she broke down the ice. She tried for the shot, but O’Connor caught it.

Rachel Berens had the last try for the Storm with less than a minute left in regulation, but the puck bounced off the pipe.

The Cardinals finished the final frame with 11 shots on goal and maintained their 2-0 lead to come away with the ‘W.’

Fairmont Area (7-8-2) hits the road to Waseca a Big South Conference contest on Tuesday night.

MBA       0-0-0–0

FA           1-1-0–2

Scoring Play

1st Period

FA — Myah Lytle (unassisted), 0:44.

2nd Period

FA — Lytle (Brooklyn Meyer), 11:31.

3rd Period

No scoring.

Shots on goal: Fairmont Area 11-12-11–34; Morris/Benson Area 2-9-9–20.

Saves: Abbey Hoffman (MBA) 10-11-11–32; Emily O’Connor (FA) 2-9-9–20.

Penalties: Fairmont Area 2 for 4 minutes; Morris/Benson Area 2 for 4 minutes.

Power-play chances: Fairmont Area 0-for-2; Morris/Benson Area 0-for-2.