The Central Wisconsin Storm defense, which allows 1.16 goals per game and whose goalies combine for a .938 save percentage, was in full force on Saturday afternoon at Greenheck Fieldhouse in Schofield, limiting the visiting Spartans of Superior to 12 shots and no goals in 2-0 Storm win.

The third-ranked Spartans weren’t going to let a little snow – eight-plus inches in Schofield -  keep them from possible preview of the Section One finals against the number two ranked Storm.

It took Superior a while to get their legs stretched out after the four hour bus ride, and the Storm dominated the first period, out-shooting the Spartans 11 to 4, and scoring the only goal in the frame. At the 1:46 mark, Madeline Kelter brought the puck into the Spartans zone in a two on one with Ava Whitmore. Kelter drew the defender wide and saucered a pass to Whitmore who fired a wrist shot just over the blocker-side leg pad of goalie Kaylie Nault to open the scoring.

Kelter and Whitmore were able to isolate a Spartan defender again later in the period, with Kelter again feeding Whitmore in the slot. But this time Nault was able to get across the crease and make the save. By this time in the first the Storm had out-shot Superior by 8 to 2.

Central Wisconsin came out aggressively again in the second period, controlling play in the Spartans zone. The Storm cycled the puck around the zone until Jayden Yirkovsky fed a pass to Gabby Heuser on the back door. Heuser did what she has been doing all season and deposited the puck into the back of the net at 2:29.

Superior shook off the cobwebs and came to life halfway through the second period, putting good and sustained pressure on Storm net-minder Camille Flohr. But Flohr was up to the task, snatching pucks out of the air with an active catching glove.

The second period was ticking to a close when Superior’s Bella Thompson caught a pass inside the Storm blue line with a chance to come in alone on Flohr. But the horn sounded just as Thompson got the the slot area, and the period ended with a 2-0 CWS lead.

Ava Rode and her Storm defensive teammates were stout in the third period, not letting any Spartan skaters get around them while in control of the puck, and stifling any hopes Superior may have had about getting back into the game. The Spartans were held to four shots on goal in he third. Just like they were in the first and the second. Nault was much busier as she stopped 27 of the 29 shots sent at her.

With the Section One seeding meeting taking place on Sunday, Central Wisconsin secured their claim to the number one seed. The Spartans can take solace in knowing that if there is to be a rematch in the Sectional Final, it will be in their barn, and the Storm will have to take the bus ride.