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Wausau West knocks DC Everest from unbeaten ranks

By Bill Berg, 12/16/11, 2:19PM CST

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Warriors not ready to turn over Valley leadership

Offense, defense, and special teams were all in sync on Thursday night as Wausau West toppled the DC Everest Evergreens 5-0 in the second semi-final of the Marathon Cup at Greenheck Field House. Wausau East defeated Mosinee 5-2 in the other semi-final contest.

DC Everest established early pressure and controlled the first few minutes of play in the Wausau West zone. West was able to turn things around about three minutes in when Tom Kilgore got around the DCE defense and put a low shot from the sideboards on goalie Andy Mahler. Two minutes later, Kyle Lee drove in on the right side and fed a pass out into the slot. Zach Peterson was able to get off a one-timer on net. Mahler got a piece of it, but not enough to keep it out.

The Evergreens were able to kill two penalties after that, including a 30 second stint of 5 on 3 action. But when the Everest took their third penalty of the period, the Warriors’ special teams took over, needing just 13 seconds to set up and put the puck out front where John Feemster fired it in to score the second goal of the period.

A minute later, West was killing their own penalty when Kilgore was able to steal the puck from an Everest defenseman just inside the Evergreens’ blue line and  fire a high shot over Mahler’s shoulder to up the Warriors up by three.

At the end of the first period and twice in the second, Warrior forwards were able to steal pucks from Everest defensemen and get clear breakaway opportunities. Mahler came out to challenge the shooters and two shots sailed wide and the third clanged off the pipe.

On his way to the bench to start the third period, Coach Susens quipped, “It would be nice to score on a breakaway and give ourselves a little cushion.” But they didn’t and the third period started with the same 3-0 Wausau West lead. And nobody protects a third period lead like Wausau West.

Susens said, “I think getting those three quick goals was the key for us. We knew they were going to attack us hard, and the second period was really helter-skelter, but we were able to withstand it.”

The Evergreen turned up the heat in the third period and pulled their goalie with three minutes left. Seth Wage lifted a shot from the corner in the West zone over the defense and all the way down the ice into the empty net with 1:14 left in the game. “That empty-netter really took the pressure off”, said Susens.

The Warriors will meet up with cross-town rivals Wausau East for the Cup Championship on Saturday. Everest will take on Mosinee in the consolation game.

WiPH Game Summaries