SETTLING THE PUCK — Fairmont Area’s Beau Becker (front) settles the puck during a Big South Conference hockey game against Redwood Valley on Tuesday night at Martin County Arena in Fairmont. Fairmont Area goaltender Rachel O’Connor (background) watches the play. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Redwood Valley broke open a 2-all tie after two periods with four third-period goals to defeat Fairmont Area, 6-2, during Big South Conference hockey action Tuesday night at Martin County Arena.

After the set of Cardinals battled to two goals apiece after the first 34 minutes, it all changed 1 minute and 41 seconds into the final 17-minute period. Mason Clark, who finished with a hat trick, secured the puck and then lit the lamp to give Redwood Valley a 3-2 lead. Less than a minute later, Redwood Valley’s Andrew Cotner found Tyson Clark for a goal to increase the lead 4-2.

Mason Clark finalized his hat trick right before the eighth minute of the period. Redwood Valley’s Jayson Peyerl found Mason Clark to make the lead 5-2. Peyerl scored the final goal of the game inside of the ninth minute of the third period to finalize the offense.

Early in the first period, Redwood Valley received a 2-minute power play to present the first scoring opportunity of the game. Fairmont Area kept its composure and kept the game scoreless.

Fairmont Area opened the scoring into the seventh minute of the first period. Kaiden Musser found Alec Reutzel to give the hometown Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

Fairmont Area controlled the first period until midway through the 13-minute mark. Redwood Valley’s Mason Clark found the puck and scored on a wide-open breakaway to even the score at 1-1.

Less than three minutes left in the first period, Fairmont Area found itself down a man again due to a power play and kept its composure.

“I thought the first period was great, but we kinda let up in the second and third,” Fairmont Area head coach Dylan VanBrocklin said. “We quit winning those battles and let up and it showed.”

Early in the second period, Redwood Valley’s Cotner tried to open scoring on a breakaway, but was stopped by goaltender Rachel O’Connor.

Redwood Valley took its first lead of the game 6:27 into the second period when Tyson Clark and Carter Iwan found Chad Riewer for a goal.

Redwood Valley had another opportunity seconds later with a two-on-one opportunity that was broken up by O’Connor.

“She (Rachel) is definitely getting better,” VanBrocklin said. “She’s starting to see the puck a little bit better. It’s not always going to happen, but we always expect the goalie to make that save and it’s our job to not give them a second opportunity and to not make the goalie worry about the pass.”

Later in the second period, Fairmont Area received two straight power plays, capitalizing on the second one. With 22 seconds left in the second period, Eli Anderson fired the puck from the blue line to tie the game 2-2.

O’Connor finished the game with 34 saves. Redwood Valley’s Camden Cilek finished with 27 saves.

Fairmont Area (0-13) travels to Luverne on Saturday for an 11:30 a.m. game.

R. Valley 1-1-4–6

Fairmont 1-1-0–2

Scoring Plays

1st Period

FA-Alec Reutzel (Kaiden Musser), 9:49.

RV-Mason Clark (unassisted), 2:32.

2nd Period

RV-Chad Riewer (Tyson Clark and Carter Iwan), 10:33.

FA-Eli Anderson (Brock Lutterman), PP. 0:22.

3rd Period

RV-Mason Clark (unassisted), 15:19.

RV-Tyson Clark (Andrew Cotner), 14:31.

RV-Mason Clark (Jayson Peyerl) 9:21.

RV-Jayson Peyerl (Chase Schablin), 7:19.

Shots on goal: Redwood Valley 5-18-17–40; Fairmont Area 14-9-6– 29.

Saves: Rachel O’Connor (FA) 34; Camden Cilek (RV) 27.

Penalties: Fairmont Area 6 for 23 minutes; Redwood Valley 4 for 8 minutes.

Power-play chances: Fairmont Area 1-for-3; Redwood Valley 0-for-3.