The Eau Claire Area Stars rode goaltender Amy Thul’s 26-save shut out to a one to nothing victory over the Black River Falls Tigers in Saturday’s Section 2 Final.

The Stars limped into the playoffs, losing 6 of their final 7 regular season games. But they have scored one more goal than they have allowed in all three playoff games, beating Hudson 3-2, Western Wisconsin 4-3, and now BRF 1-0. Unlike the first two playoff games, they managed to get this one done in regulation.

The game was pretty well balanced early on, both teams playing tight defense, and not allowing any real scoring chances. There was no scoring and no penalties recorded during the first period, which ended with a slight lead in shots on goal for the Tigers at 8-7.

The first good scoring chance came early in the second period. The Stars Addison Knaack was alone in the slot and got a pass from behind the net. Knaack got a shot off, but Tiger goalie Alexa Moore stopped it.

The first penalty of the game was called on the Stars for body checking, and ECA managed to kill off the power play.

The next penalty was on the Tigers for interference. They did not kill the penalty. The Stars got their power play set up in the Tigers zone and moved the puck around. Then Evelyn Kolar took a wrist shot from the high slot through heavy traffic that Moore never saw.

There would be no more scoring. Black River got into some penalty trouble in the third period, being called for four in a row. The Stars had their best opportunity to extend their lead when they had 1:35 of five on three advantage. But Moore and her fellow penalty killers held strong.

With the win the ECA Stars will head to Madison for a Thursday night semi-final game against an opponent to be named later,