The Wausau West Warriors scored once in each period to knock of the top ranked Hudson Raiders 3-0 at Marathon Park on Saturday afternoon.

In a game of evenly matched teams, little things can make the difference. Details, like face-off wins, made the difference in this game.

West got the first goal late in the opening period by winning a face-off in the Hudson zone. Nick Techel won the draw back to Nate Newman at the blue line. Newman took a couple quick strides toward center ice and got off a shot. Hunter Ricklefs moved from the edge of the face-off circle into the slot when the puck dropped and was in perfect position to deflect Newman’s shot past Raiders’ goalie Anthony Howard.

Howard recorded 14 saves in the first period, while Warriors goalie Paul Weise stopped all 5 shots he faced.

Another face off win in the Hudson zone, this one coming after a penalty called on the Raiders led to the Warriors second goal. Josh Bohlin won the draw back to Kellen Tharaldson at the blue line. Tharaldson skated toward center ice allowing time for traffic to form in front of the net and got off a shot that made it through the screen to beat Howard low on the blocker side.

Shots were closer in the second period, with West enjoying a 9-7 advantage, and a 2-0 lead on the scoreboard.

Holding a 2-goal lead, the Warriors shifted into protect mode for the third period. Hudson actually outshot West by enough to bring the totals almost even for the game. But the Raiders were not able to get close enough to the net to generate any quality scoring opportunities or pick up any rebounds.

The only scoring in the third period was an unassisted empty-netter by Christian Bardarson with 4.4 seconds left on the clock, making the 3-0 final score.