Coaches don't talk about 'revenge' being a factor in a game plan. But players remember the sting of an early season loss, making the rematch with Baraboo/Portage at the Ice Pond on Tuesday a critical game as conference play winds through the second round.

A sense of restlessness in the stands could be felt as both teams skated to a scoreless first period...until...senior Eric Behrend slammed home a goal with just :24 seconds left in the first stanza to take the Warriors into the break up 1-0.

The Thunderbirds came out with a bit of hop in their step and tied the game at 1-1 at the 3:00 minute mark. Senior Jay Croop finished off a power play at 6:16 with a nifty goal and fellow senior Derek Straus continued to rifle shots at the T-bird goalie - eventually sending one home on a short hander at 15:24.

Croop added another tally at 5:27 of the third to open up a 4-1 Warrior lead. The visiting T-Birds slipped one in to halve the lead at 8:51, but that didn't last long as junior point machine Jason Ford lit the lamp less than 50 seconds later to put Waunakee up 5-2.

Straus and Behrend both added their second goals after that to close out the scoring.

Waunakee pummeled the Thunderbird goalie Tylor Newby with 50 shots (nearly one per minute of play!) with seven getting by for goals. Warrior defenders were a bit stingier, giving up 33 shots on Mitch Horras, with the junior netminder turning away 31.

Next up for Waunakee is Deforest at the Ice Pond next Tuesday (1/25). It will be considered a Norski home game and part of their "Groundhog Tournament."