Playing their fourth game in six days, Waunakee took on 7th ranked Middleton at the Ice Pond on Saturday night. Fresh off their road conference win at Sauk Prairie just 24 hours earlier, the Warriors would have to muster all their composure and strength to take down the former Capital Ice rink rivals.

At 3:52 of the 1st, the Cardinals drew first blood on a short handed goal by Brett Skibba. The Warriors answered at 7:12 as Derek Straus found the twine on a blistering shot set up by a Connor Scheffler pass. Middleton went ahead on a power play goal before Straus again lit the lamp, with linemates Jason Ford and Eric Behrend providing the helpers.  And it was Ford who rammed in a power play goal at the 13:15 mark to put Waunakee up 3-2 after the first stanza.

Hang on fans...we have us a hockey game.

Middleton took the lead on two power play goals, but with 11 second remaining in the period, Straus' third goal of the night tied the score at 4-4. Unfortunately for Waunakee, Middleton goaltender Eric Smith stopped all 8 of Waunakee's scoring attempts in the third period, and Middleton's Cam Brown broke the tie with just 1:25 to go in regulation.  The Cardinals added an empty netter to make the final score 6-4.

Junior goalie Mitch Horras made 40 saves in the loss.

The Warriors will start a new home winning streak as they look to avenge an earlier season overtime loss next Tuesday (1/18) against the visiting Thunderbirds of Baraboo/Portage.