VIROQUA — After suffering a 6-1 loss to Edgewood on Thursday, Jan. 5, Monroe bounced back with a 5-1 win over Viroqua on Saturday, Jan. 7. Patrick Alt had three points to lead the Cheesemakers.
Brody Goode, who was one of two players with two points, scored the only goal in the first period with an assist from Jace Daughenbaugh.
Early in the second period, Viroqua tied the game at one with a goal from Hudson Nundahl. That was the only goal the Blackhawks scored, though, as the Cheesemakers went on to score four more.
Benjamin Erdley gave Monroe the lead back with a power play goal in the sixth minute. Alt then found the back of the net, unassisted. Wyatt Janecke scored three minutes later, with Alt and Carson Kurschner assisting.
Alt’s second goal was the lone score of the third period, as Monroe skated off the ice victorious.
Alt tallied three points from two goals and one assist, while Daughenbaugh and Goode had two points each. In net, Kyle Theorin recorded 12 saves on 13 shots for a .923 save percentage.
Monroe gave Viroqua six power play opportunities, but the Blackhawks did not cash in on a single one.
EDGEWOOD 6, MONROE 1
MADISON — The Crusaders took it to the Cheesemakers, scoring four goals and holding Monroe scoreless until the third period in a conference game on Thursday, Jan. 5.
Alt scored the team’s only goal in the third period with assists from Janecke and Cole Buholzer. As a team, Monroe put 15 shots on goal. In comparison, Edgewood had 53 shots on goalie Xander Obert. He saved 47 of them for an .887 save percentage.
There was just one penalty all game, a holding call against the Cheesemakers.
MIDDLETON 6, BELOIT MEMORIAL 0
BELOIT — Despite letting up six goals, Knights goaltender Jameson Flanagan recorded 60 saves in Beloit’s conference loss on Thursday, Jan. 5.
Middleton scored two goals in the first, one in the second and three more in the third for the win. Defensively, Ian Eberle stopped all 22 shots Beloit put on him.
VIROQUA 3, ROCK COUNTY 2
JANESVILLE — Second-period struggles plagued the Fury again, as they dropped conference game to the Blackhawks on Saturday, Jan. 7.
After the first period, the two teams were tied at one goal apiece, but Viroqua scored two goals in the second to take the lead.
“Our second period was a slow start with us chasing, something that has riddled us this season,” head coach Luke Steurer said. “It’s something we need to work on — playing a complete game. The last couple games we have played, we get beat in the second period.”
Emma Kligora scored in the third period, but the Fury couldn’t muster another scored, falling 3-2.
Ava and Emma Kligora had two points each from one goal and one assist to lead Rock County. Claudia Boehlke and Amery Stuckey had the remaining points from assists. In net, Jillian Traver recorded 43 saves on 46 shots for a .935 save percentage.
