The Superior Spartans used a crisp passing attack and near perfect power play to dismantle the Metro Lynx 7-1 in the semi-finals of the Culver’s Cup in Madison. Six different players scored for Superior as they improved to 8-1 on the season. The Spartans have yet to lose to a Wisconsin team with their only loss of the season coming to Silver Bay (North Shore), Minnesota.

Superior established their game early scoring five unanswered first period goals. Senior Makaela Reinke showed why she is the state’s most prolific goal scorer when she sent a bullet past Addy Buzzell from the left hash marks to put Superior up 1-0. Defenseman Gabryel Olson started the play forcing a neutral zone turnover that Addy Benson corralled and entered the Lynx zone. She fed a pass across to Reinke who deposited it for her 17th goal of the season. It became 2-0 on a Spartan rush when Isabella Thompson slid a pass to PaisLee Lystig between the dots who fired a shot that Buzzell saved, but Hailey Olby was there to pump home the rebound. Emma Ferg made it 3-0 converting a slick backdoor pass from Benson.

Late in the period the Lynx created their best scoring chances when forward Maggie Onapa had a pair of good looks, but Senior Spartan goaltender Kaylie Nault stopped them both. Superior showcased another tick-tack-toe passing sequence following a defensive zone face-off win that resulted in a 3 on 1 Spartan rush. The top line of Ferg, Reinke and Benson all touched the puck before Benson converted for a 4-0 lead. Superior closed out the period with a power play goal by Michaela Geissler with assists to Thompson and Olson.

When the smoke cleared Superior had scored five impressive goals on ten assists. It was a clinic in passing and unselfishness by head coach Doug Trentor’s team. The Spartans have learned to win without Autumn Cooper and their top line of Reinke, Benson and Ferg seem unconcerned with who scores as they selflessly share the puck. According to Trentor it isn’t by accident, “We work feverishly in a detailed way at puck control, systematic structures, unselfishness, and playing together as one.”

It was clear on this day that Spartans had been paying attention to their coach.

Metro Lynx got on the board early in the second period on a goal by Anna Dalebroux. The senior carried the puck down the left wing, opened up below the dots as if to make a pass, then tucked a shot under the crossbar. Later Reinke ricocheted a blast off the pipe at 10:15 in her bid for her second goal. Reinke, who will head to Gustavus Adolphus College next year shoots the puck with a velocity and speed that is different from everybody else. Thompson advanced the Spartan lead to 6-1 on the powerplay and Reinke tallied her state leading 18th goal to complete the scoring at 7-1.

A running time third period saw both coaches effectively manage their benches. Buzzell finished the game with 29 saves, Nault with just ten for Superior. It was four-point game for Reinke who sits second in the states scoring race with 25 points, one point behind Storm winger Gabi Heuser’s 26 points.

Superior has won five in a row while the Lynx have dropped four of their last five. The Spartans will play St. Croix Valley in championship game of the Culver’s Cup. The Fusion advanced with an exciting 5-4 overtime win over the Storm.

Three Stars of the game:

1-SUP-Reinke, 2-SUP-Benson, 3-SUP-Olson

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