Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the University School co-op girl’s hockey team headed north to Mosinee to play in the Gobbler Cup Tournament.  USM lost to the Eau Claire Area co-op 3-2 in the tournament's championship game Saturday after beating the Bay Area Ice Bears co-op from Green Bay 2-1 on Friday afternoon.

Eau Claire opened the scoring in the tournament’s championship game at 12:48 of the first period when Emily Lester intercepted a cross-ice pass in the USM zone, moved in, and fired a shot past the Wildcats' goaltender Heidi Golembiewski.

The errant USM pass was emblematic of the team's play in the first period. “We were awful in the first,” said USM's head coach Jason Woods, “but it was one heck of a second and third period by both teams.”

Eau Claire took advantage of another poor USM breakout play to score the first goal of the second period. On the attempted USM breakout, the puck bounced in front of the USM net.  Macki Fadness got it and took a shot.  The rebound went out to Lester who shot it into the net for her second goal of the game at 7:00.

USM closed the scoring gap at 3:34 of the third period. Laine Tomesch fired a shot at Eau Claire's goalie, Jordan Bunce who made the save.  During a scramble for the puck in front, USM's Abby Wigdale got the puck and slid it across the crease to her cousin, Ellie Wigdale, who whacked it into the net to make the score 2-1 and give the Wildcats renewed hope and vigor.

Just over five minutes later Eau Claire scored what proved to be the game winner. Skating into the USM zone trailing a one-on-one play, Haley Watkins picked up the puck after the USM defenseman had knocked it away from the original rush.  Watkins stepped in and launched a shot into the net to make the score 3-1 at 8:38.

At that time the results were still very much in doubt and the Wildcats redoubled up their efforts.  They were able to score one more goal on a power play. Woods pulled Golembiewski for a 6-4 advantage in skaters.  Working the puck along the boards in the Eau Claire zone, USM's Margot Peterson sent a pass to Tomesch. Tomesch crossed it to Sally James near the far goalpost and James popped it into the open side of the net at 13:39.

The Wildcats continued to strive for the tying goal, but their efforts in the final three minutes were for naught.

In the game, Bunce made 17 saves, while Golembiewski made 28.

USM made it to Saturday's championship game by beating Bay Area 2-1 Friday.   Despite the close score, USM dominated the game, out shooting the Ice Bears 45-22.

The Wildcats took a lead they would never relinquish in the early minutes of the game. Off a face-off in the Bay Area zone, Margot Peterson fired in a shot from the point off a pass by Rose Revolinski at 5:47.

James scored USM's second goal at 5:53 of the second period.  “Sally made a great individual effort,” said Woods. James out fought several defenders for control of the puck in front of the Ice Bears net and once she had it she whipped it in.

Bay Area finally got a goal in the third period when Lauren Rothlisberger scored a power play goal off assists by Nicole Niemi and Molly Burnette at 5:14.

In the game Golembiewski made 21 saves for USM while Lindsey Strains made 21 saves and Sarah Block made 22 saves splitting time protecting the Ice Bears’ net.

USM returns to Milwaukee with a 1-2 record.  The Wildcats' next game is at 7:00 p.m. Thursday at USM against Arrowhead.

(Thanks to Liza Sisk, Katie Lamoreux, Sarah Skinner, and Gina Giacobassi for their help on this report.)