Wildcats Rally to Win Girls Hockey Classic

There’s the saying "good things come to those who wait." The University School co-op girls hockey team demonstrated the truth of that old chestnut Saturday afternoon.  The Wildcats waited until the final period to score goals and the wait, albeit frustrating, was good as the Wildcats came from behind to defeat the Rock County co-op 3-1. As a result of  their victory, the Wildcats raised the trophy denoting the winner of the Girls Hockey Classic Tournament held at USM over the weekend.

The Wildcats may not have scored early in the game, but it wasn't because they didn't try. USM out shot the Fury 16-4 in the first period and 16-5 in the second period, but it was Rock County who scored the lone goal of those first two frames. The Fury scored their goal in the final seconds of the first period. Diane Meason picked off a poor USM breakout pass at the top of the USM zone. She skated in and took a low shot that sophomore Heidi Golembiewski stopped. The rebound came out to Rock County's Morgan Jones and she shot the puck into the USM net with just 12 seconds left in the period.

Rock County's goalie Kaitlyn O'Rourke continued to foil the Wildcats’ scoring attempts throughout the second period. It wasn't until 5:12 of the third period that the Wildcats solved their scoring conundrum. Sally James and Nina Andersen left the USM zone on a 2-on-1 break. As they skated into the Rock County end, Andersen passed the puck back to Megan Bailey, who was trailing the play. Bailey swept into the high slot and lined a wrist shot over O'Rourke's shoulder to tie the game.

The goal broke the bewitching spell cast over the USM shooters, and just over a minute later they scored the goal they needed to win the game. It came on a power play. Winning a face off in the Rock County zone, James pulled the puck to Bailey on the inside edge of the circle. Bailey shot the puck, and Andersen, heading to the net like it was a favorite candy store, knocked the rebound past O'Rourke at 6:38.

USM added another specialty team goal at 12:04. While killing a penalty, Bailey got in the shooting lane and a Rock County shot from the USM blue line hit her in the leg pads. The puck bounced to her stick and Bailey raced off on a breakaway. As she entered the Rock County zone, Bailey's quick head fake forced O'Rourke to fall to the ice. As cool as a diamond thief, Bailey gunned a shot over the sprawling goalie to ice the victory for the Wildcats.

The win gave USM a 7-2 record. The Wildcats hope to add another win to their total in their next game against the Fond du Lac co-op team at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 22 at USM.