Second-ranked Fond du Lac got four goals and four assists from its top line of Michael Wilson, Jack Nejedlo, and Ty Rebedew and cruised to a 5-1 victory over host Wisconsin Rapids Saturday in the Wisconsin Prep Hockey Game of the Week.

The hosts got on the board first, much to the delight of the home crowd at the South Wood County Rec Center. After a few minutes of back and forth play, the Red Raiders got a rebound goal from Caleb Schroer, who was parked in the slot and flipped the loose puck past Cardinal goalie Charlie Blagoue to make it 1-0 at the 8:54 mark of the first, with an assist to Jacob Morman.

Rapids had a power play chance late in the period but couldn't cash in and so the period ended with the home squad owning a 1-0 lead after 17 minutes of play. Fondy held a 9-5 shot edge and appeared to just be getting warmed up.

The Cardinals tied the game just over five minutes into the middle period.

Nejedlo grabbed a rebound in the mid-slot and ripped the puck just under the crossbar but over Rapids goalie Tyler Gilbert's outstretched glove to make it a 1-1 contest. Wilson and Rebedew both were credited with helpers on the scoring play at 5:05.

After Rapids' Grant Scharmer went off for charging, Fondy scored on a most improbable goal to get the lead in the middle of the period.

As time was running down on the Fondy power play, Nejedlo skated into the offensive zone and loosed a shot from the high slot area. The puck banged off the glass behind the net and as Gilbert was sliding over to cover the puck, it bounced off his back and into the net for a Cardinal score. The unassisted power play goal came at 9:14.

Rapids would never recover from that heartbreaking tally.

Fondy made it 3-1 at the 12:18 mark when Aaron Krueger converted on a pass from behind the net courtesy of Bailey Koenigs.

Just over two minutes later, Wilson came blazing down the right side and just as it appeared he was going to stick-handle around the net, he slipped the puck between the pads of the moving Rapids goalie to give Fondy a 4-1 lead. Rebedew earned an assist on the play.

In the period, Fondy held a commanding 18-6 shot advantage.

The Cardinals scored their fifth goal early in the third when Rebedew controlled the puck at the top of the right circle, skated into the area near the dot and ripped a shot that flew past the goalie's blocker and pinged off the left post and into the net to give FDL a four-goal lead. Nejedlo got an assist on the scoring play at 3:49.

Other than a power play chance for Rapids late, play was even and the clock ticked down to 0:00 showing a 5-1 win for the Cardinals. Shots were 8-6 in favor of the guests in the period.

Blagoue stopped 16 shots in earning the win, while Gilbert had 30 saves on the other end for Rapids.

Fondy (12-0, 4-0 Badgerland) will host conference foe Beaver Dam next Monday, while Rapids (8-4, 1-2 Wisconsin Valley) will be at home next Tuesday against WVC rival Wausau East.