MAKE IT TWO — Fairmont Area Cardinals defender Alexis Newville (second from right) receives congratulations from teammates Mackenzie Householder (far left), Emily Sokoloski (back middle) and Brooklyn Meyer after scoring her second goal of Saturday’s nonconference hockey game against Morris Benson Area at Martin County Arena in Fairmont. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Mackenzie Householder and Bella Larson each earned a playmaker, Alexis Newville and Macy Militello tallied two goals apiece, while netminder Hadley Artz netted a shutout to engineer the Fairmont Area Cardinals’ 7-0 nonconference victory over the Morris/Benson Area Storm during hockey action Saturday at Martin County Arena.

Larson combined with Militello — who connected on a twine-finding shot — to stake the Cardinals to a 1-0 lead only 55 seconds into the opening period, while Artz kept the Storm off of the scoreboard by recording seven of her 19 saves on the outing.

Householder then displayed her passing touch by reeling off three consecutive assists to help fuel a five-goal second period.

Hannah Goerndt cashed in Householder’s initial assist for a goal 4:45 into the middle frame before Householder set up two of the Cardinals’ three consecutive power-play goals.

Alexis Newville capitalized on the player advantage by converting Householder’s assist into a 3-0 lead via the first of her two goals 5:41 into the second.

Newville and Householder then joined forces on a double-helper behind Militello’s second net-finding shot of the game. The power-play goal came at the 7:34 juncture.

Alexis Newville then switched roles again, connecting for a power-play goal off a pass from Larson for a 5-0 advantage at the 9:21 mark of the second period.

Householder then smacked home a pass from Larson for her lone goal of the contest at the 16:17 juncture of the second period.

Karissa Newville capped the Cardinals’ offensive output by scoring a third-period goal off a double-assist from Jayda Healey and Shaye Dietz.

Artz went on to make six saves in each of the final two periods to net the shutout victory for the Cardinals.

Weather permitting, No. 7-seeded Fairmont Area (5-12) opens the Section 3A quarterfinals against No. 2-seeded Mankato East (11-4-1) at 7 p.m. tonight at All Seasons Arena in Mankato.

MBA 0-0-0–0

FMT 1-5-1–7

Scoring Plays

1st Period

FMT–Macy Militello (Bella Larson), 0:55.

2nd Period

FMT–Hannah Goerndt (Mackenzie Householder), 4:45.

FMT–Alexis Newville (Mackenzie Householder), PP, 5:41.

FMT–Macy Militello (Mackenzie Householder, Alexis Newville), PP, 7:34.

FMT–Alexis Newville (Bella Larson), PP, 9:21.

FMT–Mackenzie Householder (Bella Larson), 16:17.

3rd Period

FMT–Karissa Newville (Jayda Healey, Shaye Dietz), 13:57.