The Chippewa Falls Cardinals got off to a slow start on Tuesday night against the Wausau West Warriors at Marathon Park. Perhaps it was because of bus legs, or it could have been from spending so much time killing penalties in the first period. But they kicked things up a notch or two after the first intermission and fought back for a 4-2 win in our boys game of the week.

Wausau West started freshman Julian Scalcucci in goal for the second time this season. His previous start was a 44 save effort in a 3-1 victory over Wisconsin Rapids. The Cardinals started senor Nick Marlow who has played goal in 6 of the Cards previous 8 games.

The Warriors got on the board before all the spectators had reached their seats and the final notes of the national anthem had died down. West won the opening face off, got the puck into the ChiHi zone, and Cooper Depuydt scored on the first shot of the night.

With an all Schroder officiating crew – Ryan and Brandon wearing the orange stripes, and dad Bryan dropping pucks - you could expect a well-regulated game. The arms went up early and often in the first period, with the Cardinals having to kill off three and a half minutes of five on three action during one stretch.

The Warriors were able to extend their lead with a power play goal withjust 14 ticks left on the clock in the period. Brody Brimacombe batted down a puck with his stick just under the crossbar to make it 2-0 after the first.

14 saves on 16 shots for Marlow, while Scalcucci stopped all 10 shots he saw in the first.

The Cardinals got on the board with a power play goal in the second period, scoring with less than a minute left on a major penalty for head contact, which actually ripped the helmet off the ChiHi skater. On a two on one Drew Bowe got off a shot from the bottom of the left circle. Scalcucci made the save and was down on the ice. Mason Johnson picked up the rebound, sidestepped Scalcucci, then tucked the puck into the back of the net.

Total domination in the second period by the Cardinals.

CF tied the game three minutes into the third period. Ethan Foiles shot high and the puck sailed over the net. The puck then banked off the glass and came back over the net. Scalcucci saw it but was unable to control it and the puck ended up in the back of the net.

Late in the third period, Drew Bowe fed a nice pass to Carter Bowe, who was alone in the slot. Carter had time to pick his spot, and he chose to put the puck above Scalcucci’s glove had to give the Cards their first lead of the night with just over two minutes to play in regulation.

With 1:38 to play, while killing a penalty, Chippewa Falls forced a turnover around the West blue line. Jackson Hoem got the puck and was able to walk in on Scalcucci and shoot high over his blocker to make the final score 4-2.

After a slow first period, the Cardinals applied steady pressure to make the final shot count 50 to 22.