Stars, Edge dominate Raiders in shutout wins

MEDFORD GIRLS HOCKEY

S Medford’s girls hockey team ran into two tough opponents in a three-day span, suffering double-digit losses to the Somerset- based Western Wisconsin Stars and the Northern Edge Co-op.

In Somerset Saturday evening, the Raiders were beaten 11-0 by the Stars who enter this week as the state’s fourthranked girls hockey team and improved to 6-1 with the win.

Alise Wiehl scored four goals and had an assist for the Stars. Erin Huerta added three goals and an assist. Western Wisconsin outshot the Raiders 56-5. Saige Duesing picked up 45 saves for the Raiders. Emaliya Schultz got the five saves for the Stars.

The Stars’ top two scorers did all of the damage in a five-goal first period. Huerta scored twice in the first 45 seconds. Wiehl scored unassisted goals at 8:41 and 12:36. Huerta completed her hat trick at 15:30 with assists from Ellie Brice and Josie Sawicki. The Stars outshot Medford 27-2 in the period.

Western Wisconsin stretched the lead to 8-0 in the second period. Wiehl scored at 3:04 and 8:12 and Ella Stenberg got one at 15:39 with a Wiehl assist.

Alaina Smith (1:48), Makena Ducklow (2:40) and Emma Larkowski (8:50) got the third-period goals in a game that had no penalties.

The 0-5 Raiders hosted the 2-2 Viroqua Co-op Tuesday at the Simek Recreation Center in a game that took place after this week’s early holiday deadline for The Star News. Medford will return to the ice Jan. 4 when it hosts Chippewa Falls-Menomonie’s JV team at 6 p.m.

Edge 10, Medford 0

Just 10 days after the teams played a competitive 5-1 game at the Simek Center, the Raiders weren’t able to keep things as close in Thursday’s rematch with the Northern Edge, falling 10-0 to their rivals at Antigo.

It looked like it was going to be another close one through the first period. Medford’s defense was sound early. Even though Duesing had 20 saves in the opening period, most were on clean looks that the sophomore could easily handle. The Edge’s only goal came on a tough chance 11:33 into the period when Emily Kassler carried the puck into position for a oneon- one shot that Duesing stopped with a pad save. Unfortunately, the rebound went right back to Kassler’s stick and she was able to backhand it into the net.

The floodgates, however opened in the second period. Kate Vizanko perfectly hit the top right corner at 1:06. A steal in Medford’s defensive zone gave MacKenzie Wissbroecker a goal at 2:15. Isabelle Boyer scored off a nice pass from behind the net from Vizanko at 4:07 to make it 5-0.

Just after a Medford power play expired, Maria Gironella got free for a breakaway chance and scored at 8:32. With 1:30 left in the period, Callie Johnson rebounded a Gironella shot from the blue line to stretch the Edge’s lead to 7-0.

Three third-period goals finished off the Raiders. Kassler scored unassisted at 4:44, Gironella’s long shot found the net at 9:25 and Kassler completed her hat trick by connecting low from a tough angle with 54 seconds left.

Duesing finished with 41 saves. Kristina Kunelius had three saves while picking up the shutout for the Northern Edge, who improved to 3-3 at the time.