Austin girls' hockey coach Denny Bray suggests that Albert Lea freshman Laura Hillman is already better than Owatonna's Lindsay Macy, who was an All-State junior winger for the Huskies last year. If Hillman's numbers are any indication, Bray might just be right.

Hillman scored five goals and added an assist as the host Tigers took a 7-3 Big Nine Conference clash from the Packers Tuesday night in Albert Lea. The freshman sensation -- already over 100 goals for her career -- scored three times in the final 1:49 of the first period to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead.

Courtney Hughes scored her second goal of the game to bring Austin within two, 5-3, at 11:08 of the second period, but the Packers simply could not keep pace.

"We were really on fire to start there and we had the 2-1 lead, but then they scored four all within the final three minutes of the first period," Bray said. "That just stunk. Those four goals killed us."

Tessa Christensen scored at 12:05 of the first to tie the game at 2-2, and Hillman scored three straight for a 5-2 Tigers lead. Hughes' 16th goal of the season slimmed the margin, but Hillman hit the Packers up for a power-play goal three minutes into the third and iced the game in the process.

"She's the best I've seen this year, even better than Macy," Bray said. Owatonna's Macy led Minnesota in goal-scoring as a junior last season.

"We wanted this one too, but Hillman wouldn't let us have it," Bray said. "We've got to figure out how to beat her."

Hillman has 33 goals in 17 games for the Tigers (11-6, 8-2), who are third in the Big Nine standings after Tuesday night. Austin (10-8, 3-7) is tied with Mankato West for sixth.

The Packers host Winona (4-12, 2-8) Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Riverside Arena in hopes of avenging a 3-1 road loss earlier this year.

Summary:

Austin210--3

Albert Lea502--7

First Period--1, AUS, Courtney Hughes 15, 5:07. 2, ALB, Laura Hillman (Tessa Christensen), 6:16. 3, AUS, Taylor Jenkins 3 (Grace Heimsness), 8:15. 4, ALB, Christensen (Christine Tubbs), 12:05. 5, ALB, Hillman (Christensen, Tubbs), 13:11. 6, ALB, Hillman, 14:27. 7, ALB, Hillman, 14:58.

Second Period--8, AUS, Hughes 16 (Kristin Faber), 11:08.

Third Period--9, ALB, Hillman (Sarah Jensen, Heather Bagley), 2:59 (pp). 10, ALB, Christensen (Hillman), 5:35.

Shots on goal--Austin 9-5-4--18; Albert Lea 11-4-10--25.

Power-play Opportunities--Austin 0 of 2; Albert Lea 1 of 4.

Goalies--Austin, Amy Snyder 5-5-0 (25 shots-18 saves); Albert Lea, Danika Porter 11-6-0 (18-15).