December 22, 2022 at 7:26 a.m.
Saari's game-winner lifts Edge past Medford 4-3
Saari's game-winner lifts Edge past Medford 4-3
Wyndi Saari scored on a rebound chance with 24.2 seconds remaining as the Edge rallied for a 4-3 win over the Raiders in a girls' hockey contest between a pair of sectional rivals.
Neither team led by more than a goal, and the Edge - the co-op of Rhinelander, Lakeland, Antigo, Wabeno and Three Lakes - needed a pair of goals in the final 6:35 of regulation to earn their second win of the season, despite outshooting the Raiders 50-21.
"We struggled finding the net all night. Give credit to them, their goaltending was excellent. Luckily, we broke through toward the end a couple of times," Edge coach Tom Roeser said.
Saari, a senior from Rhinelander, got the game-winner at the end of a wild scramble in front of the Raider net. Lakeland junior Taylor Heleniak was denied on two point-blank chances as she walked in off the left circle. Brunner could never cover the puck and Saari was finally able to poke it home on the fourth shot of the flurry.
"That's how you have to score on her. We were relentless in front of the net at that point and just putting pucks there and rebounds, rebounds, rebounds. We got it to go, it was nice," coach Roeser said.
The teams traded goals in both the first and second periods before Medford went ahead for the first time, short-handed, at the 3:17 mark of the third. Skylier Krueger got free inside the left faceoff circle on a centering pass from Victoria Konieczny and blasted a shot inside the left post past Edge goalie Hannah Mueller.
Kristiina Kunelius, a senior from Lakeland, tied it with her third goal of the season at the 9:25 mark of the third. Kunelius took a centering pass from Wabeno's Kassidee Linssen and scored on the rebound after her initial chance was denied.
"That was more of the same. We slid a puck across, got a shot and the rebound came out and she put it home. That's what we had to do to score, keep that goalie unbalanced. She was really solid most of the night," coach Roeser said.
The Edge (2-5-0) took the lead early in the proceedings as Heleniak tallied her team-best 11th goal of the season. She gathered the puck in at the Medford blue line along the boards, deked to the middle of the ice before letting a shot go from the low slot that slipped between Brunner's legs 2:27 into the opening period.
Medford (1-5-0) tied it late in the first as Ava Hartl blocked a Maddi Roeser shot from the point, collected the loose puck and skated in for a breakaway goal at the 15:44 mark.
Ella Koca, a freshman from Antigo, registered her first career varsity goal to put the Edge up 7:49 into the second on the power play. Koca took a puck away behind her own net and went the length of the ice before firing one past Brunner from the inside of the left circle.
"Ella Koca, she really broke out tonight and played with confidence," coach Roeser said. "She was shooting the puck hard. She was carrying the puck really well. She had a really nice game."
Medford answered on an Eryka Seidl goal at the 14:42 mark as she poked a puck past Mueller in a scrum in front of the Edge net.
Tuesday's win could have some postseason implications for the Edge, which is trying to jockey for what will likely be the No. 4 seed in its WIAA sectional come February behind powers Hayward, Central Wisconsin and Superior - teams ranked first, third and fourth in the latest Wisconsin Prep Hockey girls' coaches poll.
The Edge was hindered by a 7-3 loss to sectional opponent Wisconsin Valley Union in Antigo Dec. 12, but now holds wins over sectional opponents Medford and Northland Pines. What's more, Medford defeated Valley Union 4-1 when those teams faced off in November.
The Edge does not see Wisconsin Valley Union again during the regular season, but has two games remaining against Northland Pines and will see Medford again Jan. 13 in Antigo.
"I think it does," coach Roeser said when asked in Tuesday's win puts the Edge back in the discussion for the fourth seed and a home playoff game. "It's definitely going to come down to how we do against some comparables ... but, yeah, I think we're right back in it."
Next up, the Edge travels to Baraboo Dec. 28 to take on the Badger Lightning.
"We're hoping that we come out with confidence, play a stronger game and our D-zone coverage is really struggling so we're going to work on that, and blocking some shots. too," coach Roeser noted. "That's going to be a big game for us to. That will be a comparable (opponent for sectional seeding) and I think they're a much improved team. We've got to play like we're much improved."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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