Derek Strong’s 41 saves lead Cardinals to victory

Madison Edgewood visited Chippewa Falls for a Saturday showdown. Each team played their first game the night before. Chippewa beat Verona 4-1, while Edgewood lost 2-3 to Hudson.

The speed and intensity of today’s game was higher than last night when Chippewa Falls hosted Verona.

The first goal of the game came five minutes into the first period when Chippewa senior Jackson LeMay received a pass from senior Ethan Foiles and LeMay ripped a shot past Edgewood’s senior goalie Hayden Reuhl.

Three minutes later Edgewood’s Will Rothering was behind Chippewa’s net, and Rothering made a pass to Rylan Port in front of the net. Port patiently slid the puck under Derek Strong’s left pad to make the game 1-1.

Edgewood was the first team to go on a power play. A little over nine minutes into the first period Chippewa’s Austin Frenette dragged Edgewood’s Dylan Lenz down from behind. Edgewood’s power play looked rusty with zone entries on its first power play. They spent valuable power play time trying to get the puck into the offensive zone. Edgewood was unable to convert on its first power play.

The first period ended with the teams tied 1-1, and Edgewood had an 18-15 advantage in shots.

Forty seconds into the second period Chippewa’s Matt Frenette took advantage of a turnover in the neutral zone. Frenette entered the offensive zone and blasted a shot past Hayden Reuhl to give Chippewa a 2-1 lead.

Each team had to kill a penalty during the next seven minutes but neither team could score with a man advantage.

The next goal came almost eleven minutes into the second period when Chippewa’s freshman Dane Krista awkwardly back handed the puck to the slot from below Edgewood’s goal line. Krista’s linemate Sam Johnson guided the puck into the net to give Chippewa Falls a 3-1 lead.

Shortly after Chippewa Falls scored its third goal, Edgewood’s Owen Barnet slid into the end board with a Chippewa defender draped on him and he hit his head. Chippewa Falls was given a major penalty, and Edgewood went on an extended power play.

Edgewood scored on the power play when Bennett Cagle moved the puck to Matt Richter and Richter gave a brilliant pass to Owen Porter. Porter caught Richter’s pass and buried the puck like a pure goal scorer to cut Chippewa’s lead to one goal.

The second period ended with Chippewa Falls up 3-2.

In the third period Edgewood found another gear and played like a team returning its top two lines from last season’s state tournament team. Edgewood outshot Chippewa 19 to 5 in the third period. The Crusaders had chance after chance to tie the game. But each time Derek Strong made a save, or Strong’s two best friends, his goal posts, directed the puck out of the net.

In the final minute Edgewood pulled its goalie for an extra attacker. Edgewood had opportunities to tie the game. The Crusaders controlled the puck in Chippewa’s zone but were unable to get a puck past Derek Strong.

Chippewa senior Jackson LeMay scored an empty net goal with three seconds remaining to secure the Cardinals victory.

Chippewa Falls won 4-2. Edgewood outshot Chippewa Falls 43-30.