Streaks continue and streaks come to an end. The unbeaten streak of the University School co-op girls hockey ended at ten games Friday in an Eastern Shores Conference game in Green Bay when the Wildcats lost 3-2 to the Bay Area co-op, which improved its own unbeaten streak to nine straight games. 

USM coach Jason Woods admitted, "I don't like to lose. But we're facing adversity right now with several key players out of action. We are a good team, and we will recover."

Woods and his coaching staff changed the composition of their lines and defensive pairing to adjust to the gaps in available personnel. The coaches also adjusted their game strategy to get the most out of the remaining skaters, who were weary after playing six games in nine days and their second conference game in twenty-four hours. The Wildcats were willing to give it their best effort and face the problems head on and their play showed it.

The Ice Bears made it tougher for the Wildcats by taking an early lead in the game. Senior defenseman Erica Widas got the puck in the Ice Bears' zone and sent a breakout pass to freshman Tanya Niemi. Niemi skated down the right boards into the USM end. She skated behind the USM net then passed the puck back to the right corner to sophomore Alana Kozloski, who stepped across the goal line and from an off-angle fired the puck over the shoulder of USM's sophomore goaltender Heidi Golembiewski just 2:10 into the first period.

The Wildcats were soon assessed a penalty, but they rebounded from their early adversities quickly. While killing the penalty, freshman Nina Andersen sent the puck the length of the ice. An Ice Bear defenseman cruised back to get the puck in the left corner while USM senior skated down the ice like a high-powered express train. Bailey intercepted the pass out from the corner, swirled toward the Bay Area net, and put a quick shot past the Ice Bears' junior goalie Sarah Block for a short-handed goal at 3:30 of the first period.

The two teams played evenly for the remainder of the first period and throughout the second period. The shot totals for the first 34 minutes were nearly equal as well, The Ice Bears took 18 shots and the Wildcats took 17 shots during the span. There were no more goals until the third period.

USM went ahead early in that period. Despite playing on newly created line combinations, the Wildcats executed a three-on-two play the way hockey coaches have diagramed it since the game began. Coming out of the USM zone, sophomore Abby Wigdale carried the puck down the right boards. Bailey took off for the far post and Ellie Wigdale, Abby's cousin, trailed the play. In the Ice Bears' zone, Abby Wigdale went toward the right corner then crossed a pass to Ellie Wigdale in the high slot. Ellie Wigdale had to reach for the puck, forcing her to turn. Once she got control of it, she whirled toward the net, shooting as she did. Bailey got the rebound and tapped it across the crease to Abby Wigdale who had moved to the right post. Abby Wigdale pushed the puck into the open side of the net at 2:29.

The Ice Bears tied the score a minute later. During a scramble for the puck in the USM left corner, senior Frankie Janssen got the puck, moved toward the USM net, and took a close shot. The short rebound came out to senior Lauren Roethlisberger who jammed it into the net at 3:30.

The Ice Bears scored the game-winning goal late in the third period. Breaking out of their zone, Niemi passed the puck to Roethlisberger who forwarded it to sophomore Kelsie Rafferty. Just inside the USM blue line, Rafferty made a fake, pulled the puck, and skated past the USM defender facing her. Rafferty went farther into the zone all-alone and sniped a high shot into the net with just 2:44 remaining in the game.

In the game Golembiewski made 27 saves and Block made 24 saves.

Bay Area is now 9-3-1 and 4-1 in the conference. USM is 11-3-1 and 4-1-1 in the conference. After a long stretch of games, the Wildcats have some time to rest and heal their wounds. They next take to the ice for a game at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 12th when they play the Appleton co-op team in Appleton.