The defending WIAA Division 1 state champion Wildcats didn’t know if they would get to play due to the health and gathering orders from Public Health Madison & Dane County in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then the players competed as a club team outside Dane County, prior to receiving permission from the Verona school district to play a WIAA schedule in January. The Wildcats persevered through it all and wound up where they ended last season — in the state championship game.

But second-seeded and second-ranked Hudson stymied fourth-seeded Verona’s bid for a repeat title, earning a 4-0 victory Saturday at the South Wood County Recreation Center. The Raiders (21-3) dominated offensive possession and were credited with outshooting the Wildcats (16-7) by a 35-7 margin.