Puck stuck in Medford’s end in loss

MEDFORD GIRLS HOCKEY

Playing their first game in two and a half weeks, the Medford Raiders found themselves locked in their defensive zone for most of the afternoon Saturday in their first-ever meeting with the Superior Spartans.

The Spartans, who also include Northwestern in their girls hockey co-op, put 64 shots on goal, including 29 in the first period alone, in an 8-0 win over the visiting Raiders. Medford did well to limit Superior to five goals on 50 shots in the first two periods before the home team put the game into running clock early in the third period and tacked on two more midway through the period.

Superior improved to 14-1 for the season and is in contention for the number one seed in this area’s WIAA post-season bracket, while Medford fell to 2-6 with the loss.

Superior limited Medford to just four shots on goal and one power play opportunity offensively.

Six different Spartans scored goals with Makaela Reinke and Addy Benson scoring two apiece. Emma Ferg got the first one 4:05 into the game, with Reinke and Benson scoring even-strength goals at 7:46 and 11:53 of the first period.

Indigo Fish converted a power-play goal 1:31 into the second period and Reinke got her second goal at 5:31 to give Superior its 5-0 lead heading into the second intermission. Superior was one for three on power plays.

Benson got her second goal 47 seconds into the third. Autumn Cooper and Gabryel Olson finished off the scoring with goals at 6:25 and 8:46.

Ilsa Brunner racked up 56 saves on the Spartans’ 64 shots on goal. Kaylie Nault got credit for the shutout win with four saves.

The Raiders will try to break their three-game losing streak and get a little revenge Friday when they face the Northern Edge Co-op in a 7 p.m. game that will be played in Antigo. The Edge got a last-minute goal to beat Medford 3-2 back on Dec. 20. The Raiders will host the Brookfield Co-op on Jan. 20.

In another scheduling note, Medford’s home game with the Black River Falls Co-op that was postponed Jan. 3 has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 30.