MADISON - The Rock County Fury girls hockey team's improbable run to the WIAA state tournament came to an end with a 6-1 loss to the Hayward co-op in the semifinals on Friday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center.
The Fury includes two players from Monroe High School - sophomore Ally Einbeck and freshman Cammi Ganshert - as well as players from Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Milton and Clinton. Fury goalie Molly Gross is a Monroe native who attends school at Beloit Memorial.
The Fury finished the season 16-11-1 after earning their first berth in the state tournament.
"We told the girls after we beat fifth-ranked Fond du Lac that you set a high bar," Rock County Fury coach Dave Soddy said. "Now we expect that out of you."
Amber Heidenreich scored four goals and had one assist to power Hayward to a spot in today's state championship game against the University School co-op, which beat the D.C. Everest co-op 4-2 on Friday.
Hayward outshot the Fury 38-17. The Fury were plagued by seven penalties that cost them 14 minutes of ice time.
"We have not given up a power-play goal in the last five games," Soddy said. "It's uncharacteristic of us to have penalties that early in the game. I was hoping we would get 20 shots on goal and 10 of them would really be quality shots. We had two shots go off the pipe or the game may have been different."
Soddy was impressed by Hayward.
"They (Hayward) were definitely the most disciplined team we played all year," he said. "You have to give credit to Hayward. They are the best team we have played all year."
Heidenreich scored a power-play goal at 1 minute, 58 seconds on assists from Jenna Curtis and Harley Kinney. Kinney punched in a goal about 6 minutes later to give Hayward a 2-0 lead.
The Fury got on the board when Milton sophomore Maggy Henschler scored a goal on assists from Ally Burke and Kayla Kaufman at 15:15 in the first period to cut Hayward's lead to 2-1.
Alex Grubbs scored a power-play goal early in the second period to extend Hayward's lead to 3-1. Heidenreich scored two goals in the third period to put the game away.
Gross had 32 saves. She was busy early on, racking up 13 saves each in the first and second periods.
Soddy said the state semifinal game had the largest attendance for a co-op team.
"We filled up 35 percent of the stadium," he said. "There were four bands there. It was awesome. The support from the fans was outstanding."
The Fury reached a couple milestones on the way to their first state tournament. The Fury knocked off Onalaska, a state qualifier four straight years, and beat the Middleton co-op for the first time in the history of the program.
"Those are two huge wins," Soddy said. "There is no doubt about it. It was a confidence-builder. For the girls to be able to step up to the occasion and make that run was cool."
The Fury will have 16 of their 20 players back next year.
"The big thing is they believe it now," Soddy said. "They are ready to put in the extra work this summer."
The Fury includes two players from Monroe High School - sophomore Ally Einbeck and freshman Cammi Ganshert - as well as players from Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Milton and Clinton. Fury goalie Molly Gross is a Monroe native who attends school at Beloit Memorial.
The Fury finished the season 16-11-1 after earning their first berth in the state tournament.
"We told the girls after we beat fifth-ranked Fond du Lac that you set a high bar," Rock County Fury coach Dave Soddy said. "Now we expect that out of you."
Amber Heidenreich scored four goals and had one assist to power Hayward to a spot in today's state championship game against the University School co-op, which beat the D.C. Everest co-op 4-2 on Friday.
Hayward outshot the Fury 38-17. The Fury were plagued by seven penalties that cost them 14 minutes of ice time.
"We have not given up a power-play goal in the last five games," Soddy said. "It's uncharacteristic of us to have penalties that early in the game. I was hoping we would get 20 shots on goal and 10 of them would really be quality shots. We had two shots go off the pipe or the game may have been different."
Soddy was impressed by Hayward.
"They (Hayward) were definitely the most disciplined team we played all year," he said. "You have to give credit to Hayward. They are the best team we have played all year."
Heidenreich scored a power-play goal at 1 minute, 58 seconds on assists from Jenna Curtis and Harley Kinney. Kinney punched in a goal about 6 minutes later to give Hayward a 2-0 lead.
The Fury got on the board when Milton sophomore Maggy Henschler scored a goal on assists from Ally Burke and Kayla Kaufman at 15:15 in the first period to cut Hayward's lead to 2-1.
Alex Grubbs scored a power-play goal early in the second period to extend Hayward's lead to 3-1. Heidenreich scored two goals in the third period to put the game away.
Gross had 32 saves. She was busy early on, racking up 13 saves each in the first and second periods.
Soddy said the state semifinal game had the largest attendance for a co-op team.
"We filled up 35 percent of the stadium," he said. "There were four bands there. It was awesome. The support from the fans was outstanding."
The Fury reached a couple milestones on the way to their first state tournament. The Fury knocked off Onalaska, a state qualifier four straight years, and beat the Middleton co-op for the first time in the history of the program.
"Those are two huge wins," Soddy said. "There is no doubt about it. It was a confidence-builder. For the girls to be able to step up to the occasion and make that run was cool."
The Fury will have 16 of their 20 players back next year.
"The big thing is they believe it now," Soddy said. "They are ready to put in the extra work this summer."
