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It was a night for streaks to end.

With a ten-game losing streak hovering over the Brookfield team, captain Maddie MacLeod, who isn’t afraid to get to the net the hard way by lowering her shoulder, chose the finesse route as she dangled her way past two Badger Lightning defenders to net the game winning goal with 2:27 remaining, ending the Glacier’s drought. Meanwhile, across the border in Minnesota, the defending champions Bay Area Ice Bears saw their 36-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of Gentry Academy 6-3.

For MacLeod it was the TW senior’s second goal of the game and 11th goal of the season and the first win by the Glacier since a November 28th win over Stoughton. During the ten-game streak Brookfield scored just 14 goals, only once putting up more than two goals. First-year Head Coach Blake Panosh was happy to see his team put up a win. “Finally, that nasty streak has come to an end,” he said. “But, I'll say this, I have been so incredibly proud of our girls all season long, despite the outcomes, for their attitude, effort and compete level game in and game out!”

It was Cancer Awareness Night at Poppy Waterman Arena in Wisconsin Dells as both teams took to the ice drenched in pink. Signs that this would be a tightly contested game were evident as the two teams defiantly waited for the other to break from their pre-game huddle around the net. I have seen some lengthy standoffs, but this one was epic. For the record, Brookfield broke first, but it didn’t impact the games end result!

Brookfield was dominant from the start and quickly opened the scoring on a powerplay goal by MacLeod. With the Lightning’s Kate Branch off for tripping and a delayed penalty call pending, MacLeod found a loose puck along the left-wing boards, stepped past a defenseman and beat Olivia Renneberg for a 1-0 lead. Brookfield took a late penalty and the Lightning capitalized on a textbook passing play that found Jenna Garbacz open on the left flank. She wristed a shot on net that Kjersten Hagen skillfully redirected up and over goaltender Georgianna Janet. Despite being outshot during the period 16-4, the Lightning had tied the game at 1-1.

“Our best moment was scoring on the power play,” according to head coach Nate Breunig. “The passing we executed is everything we have worked on practice, and it paid off.”

Period two again held a decided shots advantage for Brookfield, 15-7, but the play of Renneberg was outstanding. “Renneberg played lights out for their team and definitely kept them in it, particularly with her play in that first period,” admitted Panosh. Tremendous effort by that young lady, she was great all game.” The Lightning took advantage of their goalie’s stellar play taking a 2-1 lead at 7:00 of the period. Haydee Meyer sent a perfect pass to Martha Weiss, who had opened up in the high center slot and one-timed a drive past Janet.

Brookfield opened the door shortly after that goal when MacLeod was whistled for a five-minute major for head-contact. The Badger powerplay was unable to add to their lead and the period ended 2-1.

Early in period three, Brookfield entered the Lightning zone and took advantage of some soft gaps by the Lightning defense and tied the game on a goal by Jemma Schultz. Dylan Savage found Schultz driving to the net for the assist. It looked as if the Lightning would get a big boost when they killed off consecutive penalties at 9:42 and 11:30 of the period. They often say your best penalty killer is your goaltender, and Renneberg was evidence of that finishing with 12 third period saves and 42 for the game. With overtime getting closer and one bad bounce from extending their losing streak a possibility, MacLeod came to the rescue. It had been a rollercoaster night for the senior scoring the opening goal, watching anxiously as her team killed off her major penalty and having a goal waived off earlier in the third period.

“Macleod is electric when she touches the puck and is always a threat to score when she hits the ice,” said Panosh. “But Maddie will tell you, she doesn't continue to accomplish what she does over her career, this year included, without her teammates.”

“I thought our team played really well despite the loss at home,” said Breunig. “We are playing more like a team with every game we compete in and I’m confident this group will finish out the season strong.”

The Glacier have played a strong schedule to date including games with Top Six teams, CW Storm, Lakeshore, Bay Area, ECA Stars and others just outside that tier including Fond du Lac, Superior, Fox Cities, Cap City and Beaver Dam. “We have played a tough schedule thus far and have been in nearly every single game,” Panosh explained, “battling with some of the best teams our state has to offer. We have cleaned up so many aspects of our game since the beginning of the season, and the girls have maintained a positive attitude and approach all the way through.”

Badger (3-5-1) will be back in action on Monday against Cap City (7-5). The Glacier (3-12) were back at it on Saturday dropping a 4-1 decision to Arrowhead (6-10).

Three Stars of the Game: 1-MacLeod, 2-Renneberg, 3-Othmer

Blue Collar: BL-Wade, BK-Toska