The Fusion and Ice Bears met on neutral ice playing in Marshfield and played a game that was filled with fast paced hockey.  It was a battle of two top ten teams, #2 St. Croix Valley and #6 Bay Area Ice Bears.  This was the third game of the week for the Fusion having lost to #4 Hayward (3-2) and defeating #9 Eau Claire-Altoona (4-3 OT).  The Ice Bears entered the game with a 7-0 victory over Waupaca on Tuesday night.

The game started at a fast pace and wouldn't slow down for 51 minutes.  The Ice Bears were called for a penalty at 2:46 of the first period.  Hanna Zevenbergen was able to give the Fusion the early lead at 3:08 of the first, as St. Croix Valley took advantage of the power play opportunity, with Kamryn Jacobs and Maddie Rowe assisting on the goal.  The Fusion increased their lead twenty-nine seconds later, when Anna Albrightson scored with Zevenbergen and Andrea Eliason assisting on the play.  The period ended with the Fusion leading 2-0.

Mia Dunning was able to cut the Fusion lead to one by stealing the puck in the neutral zone and quickly skating in at Ellen Coggio, the Fusion goaltender.  Dunning released a quick shot and beat Coggio's glovehand making the score 2-1 with 8:11 remaining in the second.  Rowe put St. Croix Valley up by 2 again scoring a power play goal at 10:35 of the second with Jacobs and Eliason assisting.  Bay Area deducted on point from that lead with another unassisted goal.  Morgan Zirbel was able to fire the puck past Coggio with 1:04 remaining in the period.  The Ice Bears trailed 3-2 at the end of two.

The Fusion scored their third power play goal to complete the scoring in the game.  St. Croix Valley's Kamryn Jacobs skated the puck up along the boards.  Jacobs passed the puck forward to Maddie Rowe.  Rowe brought the puck into the offensive zone and skated towards the high slot area.  Rowe spotted Autumn Rasmussen at the back door and quickly passed the puck.  Rasmussen one-timed the puck into the goal to make the score 4-2.

Ana Holzbach stopped 29 of 33 shots for the Ice Bears.  The Fusion's Coggio stopped 10 of 12 shots.

The Fusion will host Onalaska on Tuesday, January 12th, at the Wildcat Center in River Falls for their next game.  Bay Area's next game will be at Cornerstone Ice Center on January 12th where they will play host to Appleton.