When RWD traveled to Waunakee for a Badger North conference game, fans expected to see a good game.  It was a meeting between the last two Badger North champions.  Waunakee won the title in 2009-10 and RWD won the title in 2010-11.  There was a half game separating them in the conference standings with the Warriors at 2-1-0 and RWD at 1-1-0.  They were not disappointed.

RWD opened the scoring by capitalizing on a 5 on 3 power play opportunity.  Cortland Maxfield found the back of the net with Nick Christensen and Luke Bjorklund assisting on the play at 8:30 of the first period.  Fast paced action continued up and down the ice, but RWD limited the Warrior scoring opportunities as they held Waunakee to three shots in the period.  End of one RWD 1 Waunakee 0.  Tyler Arneson had 3 saves for RWD, while Mitch Horras had 10 saves for the Warriors.

The second period found RWD increasing their lead to two at the 11:19 mark.  Cortland Maxfield had a rush going down the left boards.  Maxfield dropped the puck behind him to Bjorklund, who fired the puck past Horras for the goal. 

Waunakee thought they had cut the lead to one with 3:15 left in the second, but the goal was waived off due to a man in the crease.

RWD used the momentum from the call as Bjorklund collected his second goal of the evening with 61 ticks remaining on the clock in the second period.  Jesse Greenwood was credited with the assist on the play.  While RWD increased their lead to three, Waunakee outshot them in the period 15 to 6.  Arneson collect 15 saves for RWD and Horras had 4 saves for Waunakee.

Waunakee was called for a penalty at 6:37 of the third period.  It appeared RWD took advantage four seconds later, when the puck was put in the net.  However, for the second time this evening the officials waived off a goal.  This time it was RWD frustrated as the official ruled a high sticking call and said “no goal”.

The pendulum swung in the direction of the Warriors, when Jason Ford took advantage of a power play opportunity and put Waunakee on the board with 7:22 left in the third.  The Warriors cut the lead to one at the 13:24 mark of the third period.  Waunakee’s Blake Anderson scored with Ron Zaleski and Jason Ford assisting on the play.  It appeared RWD caught a break, when a hand pass was called on Waunakee in their offensive zone.  The face-off was moved to the Warrior defensive zone with 28 seconds remaining in the third.  Waunakee managed to break the puck out of the zone and apply pressure.  Cooner Scheffler took advantage of a mad scramble to the right of the goaltender and fired the shot to tie the game with 15.6 seconds on the clock.  Jason Ford and Blake Anderson collected assists on the game tying goal.

The momentum remained on Waunakee’s side as overtime started.  The Warriors controlled the face-off and moved the puck into the offensive zone.  Jason Ford fired a shot into the net with Blake Anderson and Ron Zaleski assisting on the game winner 10 seconds into the overtime.

Tyler Arneson stopped 29 of the 33 shots he faced.  Mitch Horras completed the game with 20 saves, 10 of them came in the first period.

The Warriors improve to 8-3-0 overall and 3-1-0 in conference play.  RWD drops to 9-5-0 and 1-2-0 in conference play.  Waunakee in Baraboo on Monday, January 9^th.  RWD’s next game is in Reedsburg against DeForest on Friday, January 13^th.