Junior Garrett Larsen performed at a high level, kicking aside 39 shots in leading the Waukesha Wings to a 2-1 victory over Neenah/Hortonville/Menasha in the 3rd place contest Friday afternoon at the Showdown in Titletown at the Cornerstone Community Center.

Although it takes offense to win games, Larsen definitely stole this one, making at least ten great stops on shots that could have easily been ticketed for the back of the net.

The Wings had players in the penalty box for four minutes in the middle of the period, and it was on the second one that the Rockets would take advantage.

Cody Dias found a loose puck and made no mistakes, putting it past Larsen through traffic with just under six minutes left in the period for the power play goal. Dillon Fox and Ethan Long earned helpers on the play.

Less than a minute later, Long challenged the Waukesha goalie on a breakaway, but Larsen made a right pad save to negate the scoring chance.

The horn sounded, ending the first period, with the Rockets holding a slim 1-0 lead. Shots were 14-5, Rockets.

It took a half period, but the Wings tied the score. Kevin Broda snuck a shot through the five of N/H/M goalie Calder Evans, with assists to Garrett Wilderman and Chad Larsen.

Each team had a power play chance late in the period, but the PK units held strong and permitted no scores.

The players skated off for the second intermission tied at one. Shots in the period were 18-3, advantage Rockets.

Wilderman almost gave the Wings a lead early in the third, but his shot from the high slot rang off the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Joziah Dietrich did not fail, as he gathered a lead pass and bounced a shot off the right post past Evans for the go-ahead goal. Griff Nickerson and Broda earned assists on the score.

With just over six minutes left, the Wings had a power play chance, but Alec Elkin stole a pass in the Wings d-zone and skated in on Larsen. The senior forward made a deke and skated to the left, but Larsen made a pad save to preserve the Waukesha lead.