You started to wonder if the Sectional 2 playoff game between Marshfield and Point-Rapids was ever going to get played. Thursday's game was postponed due to the threat of a massive winter storm, only to see a fraction of the expected poor weather.

Then Marshfield cancelled school on Friday, and it looked like the game would be set back another day. But the schools decided to play the game as scheduled at 5pm in Stevens Point and the contest was on.

The home squad heated up fast, scoring a pair of opening period goals to defeat the Tigers 3-0 at K.B. Willett Arena.

The Red Panthers tallied just over five minutes into the contest when Breanna Conrad found the puck in the crease and knocked it home before Marshfield goalie Alexis Straughan could secure it for the whistle. Rachel Nolan earned a helper for her part in the play.

The Tigers had two power play chances in the middle of the period, but the Red Panthers held fast and hung on to the one-goal lead until just under three minutes left.

Amanda Milanowski's shot from the left point appeared to slightly deflect off a player in front of the net, causing the Tigers goalie to misjudge it as it went past the catch glove for the second goal. Rachel Metz and Katrina Hassig were credited with assists on the goal at 14:19.

The hosts held a 10-7 shot edge in the stanza.

The score stayed frozen at 2-0 until late in the second period. Kaylee Bruneau found the loose puck in the slot and fired a shot that beat the goalie on the glove side to account for the final tally. Hannah Beilke and Emily Exner notched assists on the scoring play.

Shots were 10-3 in favor of Point-Rapids in the period. 

Marshfield tried to get something going in the third, but forays by Morgan Larson and Nell Eichten were stymied before they developed into quality scoring chances and the Tigers remained stuck at zero on the scoreboard. Forward Melissa Alcorta played valiantly in her final game as the Tigers only senior. Shots were 14-4 in favor of the home team in the final period.

Red Panthers goalie Emily Bubla stopped all 14 shots sent her way for her second shutout of the year, while Straughan was considerably busier, turning aside 31 shots in the game for Marshfield, who ended the year at 7-14.

The Red Panthers improved to 12-9-3 and will face #1 seed Central Wisconsin Storm on Tuesday in Sectional 2 semi-final action.