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Storm powers past Hilltoppers for second state title

By Michael Trzinski, 03/03/12, 2:36PM CST

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Three power plays goals the difference



Kelly Knetter scored twice and added an assist as the Central Wisconsin Storm defeated the Onalaska Hilltoppers 6-2 for the girls state tournament championship Saturday afternoon at the Alliant Energy Center.

The Storm earned their second title, also taking the winner's trophy home in 2008.

The Hilltoppers, showing no effects of Friday's four overtime game, scored first on a nice individual effort by freshman forward Jacyn Reeves. As she did in Friday's game, Reeves forechecked ferociously behind the net and came up with the puck. She skated out to the front and flipped a backhander over the left shoulder of Storm goalie Kristine Fonti to give Ona an early 1-0 lead at the 2:39 mark. 

Five minutes later Knetter tied the game for Central Wisconsin while on the power play. She sent a high wrister from the high slot that beat Hilltopper goalie Jeanalyn Schindler over the glove at the 7:34 mark for the unassisted goal.

After another Onalaska penalty gave the Storm a 5-on-3, they capitalized with a rebound goal by Myranda Hayes. Sarah Poirier had an assist on the play at 8:17.

The Storm increased the lead to 3-1 with just under two minutes left in the period.

A shot by Hayes was re-directed by Poirier at 15:05 to give Central Wisconsin a two-goal lead.

The period ended with the 3-1 lead and shots in favor of the Storm (8-6).

The score stayed unchanged until more than half the period had expired. Kylie Gazzolo grabbed the puck off a faceoff and wristed the puck into the net at 10:53 to give the Storm a 4-1 lead.

Just over a minute later, Onalaska standout Theresa Knutson scored on a nice shot from the low right side that grazed defenseman Marissa Matushak's left shoulder and snuck past Fonti to cut the lead to 4-2. Baylee Darling got an assist on the play.

Onalaska outshot the Storm 8-6 in the period.

That would set up a wild third period.

Onalaska had 53 seconds of 5-on-3, but were unable to cut into the lead of the defensive-minded Storm.

It was Central Wisconsin that would take advantage of a power play a couple minutes later. Knetter scored on a shot that was almost identical to her first goal, putting the puck in the upper right hand corner of the net at the 6:57 mark to make it 5-2, with a helper given to Gazzolo.

Alex Guenther scored the game's final goal at 12:46 when she knocked a loose puck past the Hilltopper goalie from the low right side.

The Storm had at least one player in the sin bin for the last 2:37 of the game, but the Hilltoppers were unable to knock one past Fonti, who made several saves while on the PK.

Fonti stopped 19 of 21 for the Storm, playing in front of her mentor, two-time Jessie Vetter Award winner Hillary Drake. Schindler made 16 saves on the other end for Ona.

The Storm ended the season with a record of 24-3-1, while Onalaska finished at 26-3.

WiPH Game Summaries