Hadley Artz

LE SUEUR — 3,000 saves. No, it’s not a typographical error. That’s the incredible career bench mark that Fairmont Area senior netminder Hadley Artz eclipsed during Tuesday night’s prep hockey game in Le Sueur.

Artz turned away a game-best 55 of Minnesota River’s shots on goal as the hometown Bulldogs nipped the Fairmont Area Cardinals by a 3-0 decision during a Big South Conference clash.

“What an amazing accomplishment,” Fairmont Area head coach Eric Householder said in reference to Artz’s quick-twitch goaltending skills.

Artz and Minnesota River goalie Annika Magelee — who garnered the shutout by stopping all six Fairmont Area shots she faced on the game — each kept their respective offensive opponents off the scoreboard during the opening period.

Adrianna Bixby, however, spoiled Artz’s shutout bid by scoring the contest’s first goal 11 seconds into the second segment. Bixby found the webbing off an assist from Makenna Mueller for a 1-0 lead.

McKenna Anderson converted a double-assist from Callie Voeltz and Sofie Wilson into the Bulldogs’ second goal 3:12 into the second period.

Zetta Haugen then delivered an insurance goal off a pass from Macey Portner at the 7:17 juncture of the middle segment for the Bulldogs.

Artz, who halted 20 shots in the first period and 19 more in the second, stopped 16 more Minnesota River shots on net during a scoreless third period.

Minnesota River (11-9-3), which swept the seasonal series after posting a 4-0 win over Fairmont Area on Jan. 9, travels to Waseca on Thursday night.

Fairmont Area (4-13-3) faces Visitation at 5:15 p.m. Friday at St. Thomas University.

Boys Hockey

Marshall 8, Fairmont Area 2 — Zach Kramer collected a game-best hat trick and also doled out one assist to help the Tigers claw the Cardinals during Big South Conference hockey action Tuesday night at Red Baron Arena in Marshall.

Talan Plante connected for two goals for Marshall, while teammate Sam Schwarz distributed a game-best three assists and chipped in one goal.

Parker Schmitt contributed one goal and one assist to the Tigers’ offensive production, while Andrew Seanor added a goal. Goalie Ezra Maurice made 19 saves to net the win for Marshall (9-10-1).

Kaiden Musser and Lincoln Becker spoiled Maurice’s shutout bid by producing one goal each for Fairmont Area on the night.

Musser converted a double-assist from Beau Becker and Hartley Aust into the Cardinals’ lone first-period goal.

Lincoln Becker then accounted for Fairmont’s only goal of the second period by finding the twine during a power-play opportunity via a double-assist from Nate Rakness and Luke Kester.

Fairmont Area netminder Carson Johnson produced a game-best 32 saves.

Fairmont Area (5-13) plays host to Waseca at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Martin County Arena in Fairmont in another conference matchup.