Girls Semi-final Game 1 - Onalaska Hilltoppers vs USM Wildcats.
ONALASKA HILLTOPPERS (16-6-3)
Previous tournament appearances: 9
State Titles: 0
Last Appearance: 2014 (Lost to Bay Area, 6-5)
How They Got Here: Beat Beaver Dam 10-0, Stoughton Icebergs 3-2 (2OT), Sun Prairie Cougars 3-1
The Hilltoppers lost their last two regular season games to the Central Wisconsin Storm and USM Wildcats (two of the other three semi-finalists). They have allowed three goals during the post-season.
They are led by defenseman Jacyn Reeves (35g-15a) and forward Chazlyn Anderson (14g-14a). Mackenzie Steinfadt (6g-13a) and Taylor Monroe (6g-6a) help the offensive attack.
While Reeves leads the team in scoring, fellow defensemen Morgan Gargaro (11g-13a), Kelsey Seiler (5g-5a) and Lucy Anderholm (4g-4a) help in playing key roles of protecting their goaltenders.
Skylar Dannhoff (.935 sv%, 1.78 GAA) has played the majority of the time in the net this season. Alli Christenson (.909 sv%, 2.37 GAA) has spent time in goal, too
USM WILDCATS (25-2-0)
Previous tournament appearances: 2
State Titles: 0
Last Appearance: 2013 (Lost to Hayward, 6-2)
How They Got Here: Beat Arrowhead 10-0, Fox Cities 8-0, Bay Area 3-0
The Wildcats have lost two games this season, both to the Bay Area Ice Bears. However, they won their last two games against Bay Area (one in the Eastern Shores Conference Tournament title game and the other was the Sectional 4 Final). USM won their final 10 regular season and 3 post-season games to be on a 13-0-0 run.
USM has four players with over 40 points--sophomore forwards Nicole Unsworth (68g-34a), senior Rose Revolinski (10g-41a) and senior Nina Andersen (27g-22a). Defenseman Sloan Sullivan (21g-27a) helps on the scoring end. Caitlin McBride (12g-22a) and Jessica Malloy (8g-17a) help to make the Wildcats scoring a prolific attack.
The entire team does a supreme job in back checking, when the opponent is on the offensive attack.
Sophomore Liz Ostermeyer (.947 sv%, 0.93 GAA) has been minding the net for most of the season. Ostermeyer, with the help of her teammates, has eight regular season shutouts and one in the post-season. USM has not allowed a goal in five of their last seven games, including shutouts of Onalaska and Bay Area.
These teams met in their regular season finale on February 13 at Uihlein Ice Arena. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie, but the Wildcats were able to score three in the second on their way to a 5-0 victory. USM outshot the Hilltoppers 51-26 in the game and that is a reflection on the regular season as the Wildcats outshot their opponents 985-412. Onalaska will need to keep USM on the outside and limit their offensive attack.
Girls Semi-final Game 2 - Hayward/Spooner Hurricanes vs. Central WI Storm
HAYWARD/SPOONER (22-4)
Previous tournament appearances: 2
State Titles: 1 (2013)
Last Appearance: 2013 (beat USM 6-2, beat Onalaska 5-2)
How They Got Here: beat Superior 4-0, beat St. Croix Valley 2-0
The Hurricanes enter the state tournament with a four-game winning streak, including two playoff shutouts.
At forward, the Hurricanes have good firepower and are led by sophomores Jenna Curtis (21g-21a) and Amber Heidenreich (24g-15a). Adding experience are seniors Madeline Spangenberg (17g-11a) and Emma Dieckman (6g-14a). Rounding out the top two scoring lines are junior Harley Kinney (14g-8a) and freshman Sarah Pearson (4g-10a).
Senior Claudia Duffy (3g-8a), juniors Alex Grubbs (5g-6a) and Karin Knapp (0g-7a), and sophomore Kaelin Laub (0g-4a) are among the top defenders of the blueline.
Sophomore netminder Lauren Tremblay (,928 sv%, 1.42 GAA, 10 shutouts) is a mainstay on the back-end for the Hurricanes.
CENTRAL WISCONSIN (19-9-1)
Previous tournament appearances: 7
State Titles: 2
Last Appearance: 2014 (lost to Bay Area 2-1 in OT)
How They Got Here: beat Medford 8-0, Point-Rapids 5-0, Northland Pines 5-0
Five forwards have scored over 25 points this season: senior Kelly Knetter (24g-18a), junior Elizabeth Bauer (14g-22a), sophomores Katelynn Schilling (18g-16a), Maggie Plaza (16g-9a), and Katelyn Ramthun (12g-14a). Junior Emily Bauer has added 19 pts (4g-15a).
Defensively, the Storm is led by senior Izzy Uhl-Chmiel (1g-13a), and sophomores Taylor Treu (1g-20a), Jamie Henrickson (1g-9a), and Samantha Brown (4g-5a).
Senior Renee Hosler (,883 sv%, 1.67 GAA) has six shutouts this year, including three in the playoffs.
TRASHER'S TAKE: The teams have met once this year, with the Hurricanes taking a 3-2 OT decision over the Storm in early January.
The Storm allowed the fewest shots per game this year, thanks to a stifling defensive scheme. That said, Hayward/Spooner was sixth in the state in goals scored. But if you can't get off quality shots, you don't score.
If the Storm keep shots to a minimum, they pull out out a one-goal win. If Hayward/Spooner is able to get 25 shots on net, they take home a close victory.
Either way, should be a great contest between a pair of talented squads.
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