It was a come-from-behind that conclude things well for the University School co-op girls’ hockey team. The Wildcats punctuated their successful regular season Friday by fighting back to defeat the Onalaska Hilltoppers co-op 3-2 in a non-conference game played at the Omni Center in Onalaska.

The Hilltoppers went ahead early in the first period and led 2-0 late into the second period. Freshman Kaley Manglitz scored both of the Hilltoppers’ goals.

Although they out shot the Hilltoppers 32-23 in the contest, the Wildcats were sluggish after a four-hour bus trip, and their work on the ice was harmed by four penalties in the first two periods.

But the Wildcats would not be denied.  They began their comeback surge with a goal in the last three minutes of the middle frame. They then rallied for two goals in the third period to carry off the victory.  Junior Nicole Unsworth scored two of the Wildcats’ goals and senior Caitlin McBride scored one.

“It’s good to end the regular season with a win,” said Jake Haury, USM’s head coach.  “We got off to a slow start in the first period tonight.  Still, I’m proud of the effort the girls gave in the last two periods tonight. We had a good season, no doubt about it.  But now we start over. We’ll need to work even harder in the playoffs starting next Friday.  I’m looking forward to seeing what this group of girls can do.”

After a win over the WSFLG Blizzard the previous night, the Hilltoppers were ready for their visitors Friday evening.  Early on, they out hustled the Wildcats and were able to jump into the lead.

The Hilltoppers got the puck deep into the Wildcats’ zone where senior Chazlyn Anderson grabbed it from a Wildcat defenseman in the corner and passed it out front to junior Taylor Monroe.  Freshman goaltender Marie Detert stopped Monroe’s close shot, but the rebound skittered to the left.  The puck ping ponged around the crease as players attempted to control it.  It slid to Maglitz near the right post, and she popped it in.

The teams battled throughout the remainder of the period, but neither scored.

The Wildcats put four shots on Skylar Dannhoff, the Hilltoppers’ junior goalie, in the first two minutes of the second period, but it was the Hilltoppers who scored the period’s first goal at 2:01.  Anderson stole the puck from a defenseman at the Wildcat blue line, and deftly stickhandled past the defender as she skated down the left side. Anderson fired a shot from the circle. She chased in after the rebound, collected the puck in the right corner, swept behind the net and passed it out to the center point to sophomore Alexis Cottrell.  Cottrell gunned a low shot at the goal.  The puck hit a defenseman’s skate and bounced to Manglitz who immediately jammed it into the net.

Down 2-0, the Wildcats had to show their resiliency.  They picked up their efforts, but Dannhoff held them off until 14:02 of the second period when the Wildcats’ determination finally had a pay off.

The Hilltoppers dumped the puck into the Wildcats’ end and changed.  Sophomore defenseman Hannah Gold skated back for the puck, got it, and from the left circle sent a long cross-ice pass to Unsworth at the red line. Unsworth angled toward the middle as skated across the Hilltoppers’ blue line. As she moved into the slot a defenseman stepped to stop her.  Unsworth decided to shoot.  It was a good decision.  Her shot dipped as it neared Dannhoff and slipped across the goal line.

Encouraged by the goal, the Wildcats intensified their labors in the third period.  A beautiful play by Gold early in the period led to the tying goal.  As the Wildcats cycled in the Hilltoppers’ zone, Unsworth got the puck, skated out of the left corner to the blue line, then passed it to Gold at the right point. Gold skated along the line to the left. She stickhandled past two defenders and headed to the top of the left circle.  From there she slapped a low shot toward Dannhoff.  McBride was near the post. She extended her stick and tipped the oncoming puck over Dannhoff’s shoulder into the twine at the top of the net at 1:29.

“It was a little bit of a struggle,” said Gold after the game.  “Their players kept fighting me for it, so I pulled it away and skated away.”

Having tied the score, the Wildcats kept at it and finally, late in the game, they got the break they needed to score the winner. As the Hilltoppers regrouped in center ice, Unsworth entered on a change.  She picked off a pass and sped past everyone toward a startled defenseman who was deep in the Hilltoppers’ zone.  Like a door on a hinge, Unsworth veered around the defender to the right and slammed a shot to the left past Dannhoff at 11:21.

The teams battled fiercely for the remainder of the game.  The Hilltoppers’ pulled Dannhoff in the final minute, but the added skater was to no avail.  The Wildcats kept the Hilltoppers’ away from the net and secured the victory.

USM ended the regular season with a 19-3-2 overall record and a 7-0-1 record in the Eastern Shores Conference.  The Hilltoppers finished with a 10-11-2 record. Now it’s time for the WIAA state tournament playoffs.  The Hilltoppers host Viroqua in a Sectional 3 Regional Final at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18th.  The Wildcats face off against Brookfield in a Sectional 4 Regional Final at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19th at USM.