Every year, Northland Pines and Wausau West can look forward to a non-conference matchup between two sectional opponents. The Eagles and Warriors faced off last night in Wausau in a game that ended in a 5-1 victory for the Warriors.

Wausau West controlled the action throughout much of the game, keeping the puck in the offensive zone for the majority of the first period. Christian Bardarson started the scoring for the Warriors half way through the first period on a rush pass from Cale Bowman and Max Techel.

The Warriors found themselves celebrating once more before the buzzer sounded at the end of the period with a goal scored by Nick Techel. Pines’ defensemen and goaltender Ethan Polich were busy over the course of the period, blocking five of Wausau West’s shots and making twenty one saves on the net.

Tuesday night was a special night for the Wausau area as they celebrated the Wausau Warjacks youth teams in between periods with a mini scrimmage, cheered on by both the Northland Pines and Wausau West players alongside the ice.

Josh Bohlin put the home team up 3-0 in the early part of the second period  before the Eagles finally managed to get a goal up on the scoreboard. Ryon Ritzer and Jack Rhode brought the puck up the ice and put the pressure on Paul Weise but were unable to get the puck in the net. Rhode reclaimed the puck and sent it up to the blue line where Sammy Spencer was open and fired the puck at the goal, cutting the Warrior’s lead 3-1.

Bohlin scored his second goal of the night, this time shorthanded with Brandon Thorson in the penalty box for interference, to close out the second period.

Pines had several opportunities in the final frame but just couldn’t get the puck past Weise. Cale Bowman, assisted by Nate Newman and Max Techel, sealed the victory for the Warriors with a power play goal as just 4.6 seconds remained in the game. Ethan Polich recorded 55 saves over the course of the contest. The next game for the Eagles is Thursday against Great Northern Conference opponent Tomahawk.