USM Co-op Girls Hockey Team Wins One, Loses One

The co-op girls’ hockey team traveled to western part of Wisconsin to play games on Jan. 27 and 28. On the 27th, USM defeated Black River Falls co-op, 6-3. On the 28th, the Wildcats lost to Onalaska, 5-1.

Despite the long bus ride, the Wildcats were ready to play when they hit the ice in Black River Falls. They scored two quick goals early in the first period. The first came when Megan Bailey sent a pass to Sally James near the top of the right circle in the Tigers' zone. James snapped a shot high into the net past Black River Falls goalie Emilie Anderson at 4:06.

USM scored again just seconds later. The Wildcats sent the puck deep into the Black River Falls end. Hustling after it, Liz Curley secured it and passed it to Rose Revolinski in the corner. Revolinski whirled out of the corner and fired a shot into the Black River Falls’ net at 4:22.

Black River Falls made the score 2-1 four minutes later. Skating into the USM zone on a one-on-one, Natasha Hizer gunned a high shot past USM's goaltender Heidi Golembiewski for an unassisted goal at 8:23.

The Wildcats scored another first period goal at 11:13. Forechecking in the Black River Falls corner, Abby Wigdale got the puck and passed it to her cousin Ellie Wigdale along the boards. Ellie Wigdale centered it to Laine Tomesch who one-timed it past Anderson to give USM a 3-1 lead.

The Tigers narrowed USM's lead early in the second period. Cycling the puck in the USM zone, Destiny Muir sent it to Mary Vender in the corner. Vender passed it on to Lydia Cloud moving behind the net. Cloud skated out front and jammed in a wrap-around goal at 1:44.

The Wildcats widened their lead on a power play early in the third period. From the Black River Falls blue line, Billie Fritz sent the puck in to Abby Wigdale, who crossed it to Abby Berman. Berman blasted a shot past Anderson at 2:08. 

The Wildcats made it 5-2 just over two minutes later when Revolinski snapped in a shot from the top of the Black River Falls circle for an unassisted goal at 4:18.

Black River Falls scored the game's next goal on a power play. As the Tigers moved the puck around the USM zone, Hizer sent it to Zayta Thundercloud who then lined a shot into the USM net at 9:14.

Black River Falls pulled Anderson for an extra shooter late in the game, but Ellie Wigdale negated that strategy by firing a shot into the empty net for a goal at 16:33.

In the game, Anderson made 26 saves while Golembiewski made 13 saves.

Saturday afternoon the Wildcats faced Onalaska. It soon became clear why the Hilltoppers are the top-ranked team in the state. 

Onalaska scored the game's first goal while shot-handed. Theresa Knutson got the puck in her defensive end. She moved past one USM skater and out-raced another as she headed down the ice. She moved in on Golembiewski all alone, deking the goaltender as she did, before sliding the puck into the USM net at 5:12.

The score became 2-0 late in the first period. Jamie Wielandt got the puck deep in the Onalaska zone and passed it to Melinda Kunes who zipped a smooth breakout pass to Jacyn Reeves. Reeves skated past the USM defense and went in on a breakaway. She made a move that forced Golembiewski to go down, and then she snapped the puck into the net at 15:24.

The Hilltoppers made it 3-0 early in the second period. Wielandt got the puck deep in the low circle in the USM zone. She skated toward the net and took a shot. The rebound popped out to Ellie Meyer who slipped it into the net at 4:41.

Onalaska scored again late in the second period. In center ice, Jayda Hoerres passed the puck to Knutson who outskated the USM defenders, moved in on Golembiewski, deked her, and put the puck in the net at 15:05.

USM scored its lone goal early in the third period. Defenseman Rebecca Hart took a pass from Nina Andersen in center ice and headed toward the Onalaska goal. As she moved into the slot, Hart slid the puck to Tomesch who was roaring down the left side. Tomesch swung toward the net and drilled a shot past Onalaska's goalie Jeanalyn Schindler at 4:11.

USM put pressure on the Hilltoppers but were unable to put another shot past Schindler. Onalaska, however, did make another shot count. Knutson got her hat trick when she took a pass from Meyer below the USM goal line, swung out front a laced a low, off-angle shot into the net at 13:55.

In the game, Golembiewski made 29 saves and Schindler made 22 saves.

As a result of the weekend’s trip, USM is now 14-7-1.