Albert Lea was outshot by Austin in the opening period of Thursday's Big Nine Conference opener for the host Packers, but the Tigers made the most of their limited opportunities.

Sophomore Tessa Christensen scored her first of two power-play goals on Albert Lea's first shot on net in an eventual 4-0 league victory for the Tigers at Riverside Arena.

Christensen snuck the puck past Packer eighth-grade goalie Amy Snyder, caroming the goal off the right post with three seconds left on the game's opening power play. Austin forward Courtney Hughes went to the penalty pox for high sticking 3 minutes 39 seconds into the Packers' Big Nine opener, and Christensen's goal brought her back onto the ice moments earlier than expected.

Albert Lea is 4-1 after losing their first game of the season to New Ulm. The Packers leveled out at 1-1 with their conference opener.

The Tigers attempted only five shots in the first period, but the goal advantage and a strong penalty kill powered Albert Lea past the first-period strong Packers heading into the first intermission. ALHS tallied three goals in the second period to ice the league victory.

"Every time we got on the power play we got a penalty," said Austin coach Denny Bray. "Coaches hate that.

"The second period killed us again. We've got to do something about that."

Christensen bounced her second power-play goal off the left post to end Albert Lea's scoring onslaught in the second period. The Tigers outshot Austin 23-10 in the second.

"I think we kind of slowed up in that second period," said Packer defenseman Tracy Petersen, who received Austin's Player of the Game puck.

Albert Lea made a number of odd-man rushes into their offensive zone and eventually finished ahead 37-24 in shots on goal.

"We've been outshot in periods before," said Albert Lea coach Mike Miller. "That was the first goal we've scored in the first period all season long. We kept our cool in the second period.

"It was nice for the power play to pick it up, they really started to move the puck."

Austin's best scoring opportunity in the second period never materialized because a questionable offsides call on Hughes. Jessica Petersen carried the puck past the blue line with Hughes flanked to her right, but the whistle blew and Austin never recovered.

The Packers picked up two more penalties in the period and Albert Lea, already leading 2-0, tallied twice in the final 1:25 to make it a four-goal game.

"I think that's what changed the momentum of the game," Bray said. "I thought in the third period we played real well. We didn't roll over, and that's the sign of a good team.

"This one's over. We'll get 'em next time."

Hughes got a breakway chance inside the final minute of the second period, but Albert Lea freshman netminder Danika Porter stopped her on three shots from point-blank range.

Eight of the Tigers' nine points were scored by underclassmen.

Austin (1-1, 0-1) plays host to Rochester John Marshall Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The Rockets are 3-1 overall and 3-0 in Big Nine games after beating Mankato East on Thursday. The Packers also entertain

three teams -- Mankato West, Kasson-Mantorville and Onalaska, Wis. -- in the AHS Invite Nov. 29-30.

Summary:

Albert Lea130--4

Austin000--0

First Period--1, ALB, Tessa Christensen (Amy Leach), 5:36 (pp). Penalties--Courtney Hughes, AUS (high sticking), 3:39; Sara DeVries, AUS (high sticking), 5:55; Christine Tubbs, ALB (interference), 6:35; Tubbs, ALB (holding), 13:26.

Second Period--2, ALB, Karissa Lau, 1:53. 3, ALB, Laura Hillman (Christensen, Leach), 13:35. 4, ALB, Christensen (Hillman, Frances O'Donnell), 14:51. Penalties--Emily Quealy, AUS (checking), 4:23; Brittany Arendt, ALB (interference), 6:39; Jenny Nemitz, AUS (boarding), 8:53; Tracy Petersen, AUS (roughing), 14:36.

Third Period--None. Penalties--Quealy, AUS (interference), 4:50.

Shots on goal--Albert Lea 5-23-9--37. Austin 8-10-6--24.

Power-play Opportunities--Albert Lea 2 of 6; Austin 0 of 3.

Goalies--Albert Lea, Danika Porter (24 shots-24 saves). Austin, Amy Snyder 0-1-0 (37-33).