6-0-0 Spuds still seeking to improve

Moorhead is ranked second in Minnesota Class 2A girls hockey, its best standing ever.

The Spuds were oblivious to as much prior to this week.

Their coach might also use the word oblivious to likewise describe said pollsters.

"Whoever these five mythical people are that determine that stuff," Moorhead coach Jim MacFarlane said, "I don't know what they're watching."

This after the Spuds moved to 6-0-0 with a 4-1 victory over the St. Paul Blades Friday at the Moorhead Sports Center.

It's a gripe with obviously positive undertones.

A. Back-to-back Section 8 championships have boosted Moorhead's reputation.

B. The program is at a point where it can nitpick about improvement and standards.

C. At 16-0-2 the past three Novembers, early-season success is commonplace.

D. Hopes for a state title are legitimate -- outside Moorhead city limits.

"We're a big game for everybody now," MacFarlane said. "You bring that on yourself, and that's good."

Outlook in mind, there was both good and bad in beating the Blades, who consist of players from Como, Johnson and Harding high schools.

Despite a sloppy first period, the Spuds scored two goals on the power play and one shorthanded, killed both St. Paul power plays, passed precisely and got solid play from senior goalie Amber Lindner.

All that and a third victory over a Metro-area team, yet they weren't exactly ecstatic.

"We're trying to fix that," said Moorhead junior forward Kristen Juven, who had two goals and one assist.

"We're still trying to figure out the lines. All we have to do is work hard and we'll do well," Juven added.

Well, it's slightly more complex than that, Juven agreed.

First, the Spuds will look to forget the past -- including fifth and sixth-place state

finishes in 2001 and 2002, respectively -- and the future.

"We need to just go out and play," Juven said. "People can get wrapped up in rankings and it doesn't really help."

Enter MacFarlane, witness to previous fickleness.

Neither of his past two squads made the poll until the back end of the season.

No amount of sugar coating will make these Spuds realize their lofty expectations.

"Coaches see things through different glasses," MacFarlane said. "It's our job to be critical and fix the mistakes they're making."

FIRST PERIOD: 1, M, Juven, 12:39.

SECOND PERIOD: 2, M, Juven, 5:38 (sh). 3, M, Halseth (Juven), 11:22 (pp).

THIRD PERIOD: 3, SPB, Poehler

(Kirchoff), :50. 4, M, Souba (Kari Kludt), 4:13 (pp). 5, M, Arneson (Puffe), 14:13.

Goalie saves: SPB, Kaufmann 6-5-5--16. M, Lindner 8-6-8--22.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Terry Vandrovec at (701) 241-5548