The University School co-op girls’ hockey team lost to the Central Wisconsin Storm co-op 4-0 in the Championship game of the Gobbler Cup Classic Tournament played Saturday afternoon at the Mosinee Recreation Center in Mosinee.

The Storm, hosts of the annual Thanksgiving tournament, were anything but kind to their out of town guests. They scored two early goals in the first period. Although the shot totals were close 32-30 in favor of the Storm, the Storm’s defenders kept relentless pressure on the Wildcats’ forwards throughout the game. The Storm added a goal early in the third period and a fourth for dessert late in the game to win convincingly.  Junior Katelynn Ramthun had a hat trick for the Storm while sophomore Abby Hannes scored one goal. Sophomore goalie Chloe Westberg recorded the shutout.

It was the second straight year that the Wildcats have lost in the tournament finals.  After their exhilarating overtime victory over Hayward in the tournament’s opening round, the Wildcats did not appear ready for championship level play.

The Storm were ready.  They scored the game’s first goal just 4:11 into the first period.  They got the puck into the USM zone and forechecked hard.  Sophomore Erin Gruber got the puck down low and sent it to senior Elizabeth Bauer who evaded a defenseman who came way out to stop her, skated in, and fired a shot.  The rebound bounced to Ramthun who stuffed a shot past USM’s freshman goaltender Marie Detert.

The Storm scored again at 7:26 on a pretty give-and-go play. Ramthun got the puck in the left corner in the USM end and passed it to Emily Bauer, Elzabeth’s twin sister. Unimpeded, Ramthun immediately headed toward the net.  Bauer passed it back and Ramthun shoved a quick shot inside the pipe for the goal.

Ramthun gained her hat trick early in the third period.  During a contentious struggle for the puck in front of the USM net, the Storm’s sticks stayed on the ice and they were able to snap off four in-close shots.  Detert was firm and kept the puck out on three of those shots, but the fourth by Ramthun made it past for the goal at 3:01.  The Bauer sisters were each awarded an assist on the play.

Hannes scored the Storm’s final goal at 15:43 on a shot into an empty net.

Penalty killing provided the Wildcats some positive moments.  They were able to kill off 11 minutes of penalties, including a five minute major, but the penalties hurt their ability to gain momentum and put pucks past Westberg.

USM is now 1-1 and 0-0 in the Eastern Shores Conference. The Wildcats start their conference play with a game against the Fond du Lac/Waupun Warbirds on Wednesday, December 2nd at the Blue Line Ice Center in Fond du Lac.