BIRDS OF A FEATHER — Fairmont Area Cardinals teammates, from left, Alec Reutzel, Hudson Artz, Alexander Moeller and Hank Artz, celebrate Moeller’s goal during Big South Conference hockey action Thursday night at Martin County Arena in Fairmont. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Worthington forward Blake Ahrenstorff netted a hat trick and teammate Easton Newman scored twice as the visiting Trojans took down the hometown Fairmont Area Cardinals 6-4 in Big South Conference hockey play at Martin County Arena on Thursday night.

“We were moving the puck and getting good scoring chances, then we’d make a mistake and they capitalized on the mistakes that we made,” Cardinals head coach Dylan VanBrocklin said. “We started to come back, so that was good to see, but we didn’t play three full periods again tonight.”

Despite the Cardinals possessing a 2-1 advantage at the end of the first period, the momentum would firmly shift in Worthington’s favor in the second during a five-minute power play opportunity. Ahrenstorff, who had already scored prior to the major penalty, captured a pair of power-play goals for a natural hat trick. All three tallies would occur within six-minute span. While Fairmont Area fought back with a shorthanded marker during the same penalty, the team was unable to complete the comeback.

The hat trick would be the first of the season for Ahrenstorff, as Newman also contributed on the scoresheet with a pair of early goals to keep the Trojans in contention. Defenseman Ian Bumgardner added an insurance goal in the third period, while defenseman Andrew Benson registered a multi-point game with two assists in the victory.

Cardinals defenseman Eli Anderson claimed his 50th career assist with the secondary helper on a goal by forward Thomas Claeys. Along with his goal to open up the contest, Anderson put himself at 49 career goals and just one marker shy of reaching the 100-point milestone.

“Everybody will tell you that he’s a really good player,” VanBrocklin said. “He’s got a lot of assists, but he should have a lot more.”

Forward Alexander Moeller led the Cardinals offensively with a goal and a pair of assists, with forward Nate Rakness joining Anderson with a two-point performance, collecting two assists.

Forward Beau Becker scored his first career goal in the second period, taking an assist from Rakness and defenseman Brock Lutterman to restore the Cardinals’ one-goal advantage.

“When you’re up at the point and you see that lane in the center, we want them to drive into the net,” VanBrocklin said. “The puck popped right onto his stick and he made a perfect shot.”

Trojans goaltender Steven Adams made 22 saves on 26 shots to pick up the win, while Cardinals goaltender Carson Johnson stopped 29 of Worthington’s 35 shots.

The Cardinals (6-15) travel to take on Cotter at 7 p.m. tonight in a nonconference game, while the Trojans (10-11) will next play at home against Winona tonight at 7 p.m.

Worthington 1-4-1–6

Fairmont Area 2-2-0–4

Scoring Plays

1st Period

FA–Eli Anderson (Alexander Moeller, Nate Rakness), 2:53.

WOR–Easton Newman (Konner Honius), 9:29.

FA–Thomas Claeys (Alexander Moeller, Eli Anderson), 16:56.

2nd Period

WOR–Easton Newman (Andrew Benson), 1:01.

FA–Beau Becker (Nate Rakness, Brock Lutterman), PP, 5:50.

WOR–Blake Ahrenstorff (Levi Kuhl), 9:46.

WOR–Blake Ahrenstorff (Blake Luinenburg, Alec Langerud), PP, 13:03.

WOR–Blake Ahrenstorff (unassisted), PP, 15:15.

FA–Alexander Moeller (Hudson Artz), SH, 16:09.

3rd Period

WOR–Ian Bumgardner (Andrew Benson), 7:15.