BELOIT — The Fury won back-to-back games last week, including a key Badger Conference win to guarantee at least a share of the league title. A win or tie in either of their last two games — or a loss or tie by Metro Lynx (11-11, 8-2 Badger) — and Rock County will clinch the conference title outright.
It started Jan. 25 when the Fury (14-6, 10-0) edged Cap City Cougars 2-1 in Sun Prairie. The Cougars (7-14, 5-6) went up 1-0 at the 13-minute mark in the first period on an even strength, unassisted goal by Lilly Wenger.
At the 10:37 mark of the third period, Emma Kligora equalized, scoring off a pass from sister Ava Kligora. Emma Kligora then put the game winner into the back of the net just 36 seconds into overtime, unassisted.
The Fury outshot the Cougars 48-28 in the game.
Two days later, Rock County doubled up the Fond Du Lac Warbirds (12-6-1), 6-3. Emma Kligora scored five goals to lead the way. Macy Murphy had an assist and an empty net goal late in the third that made it 5-3 at the time. Ava Kligora had two assists, while Ella Swenson and Sophia Young each had one assist.
Rock County went up 1-0 just over six minutes into the game, but the Warbirds scored the next two goals. At the 9:28 mark in the second period, Emma Kligora scored her second of the game.
The third period was nothing shy of bonkers. Just under six minutes in, Emma Kligora broke the 2-2 tie with a score off a Murphy pass. Emma Kligora added an unassisted power-play goal less than four minutes later to make it 4-2. With under six minutes left in regulation, the Warbirds scored on a power play of their own to make it 4-3.
Murphy’s empty-netter came with just over 3:30 to play, and Emma Kligora put one final puck past the netminder with just seven seconds left in the third.
The Warbirds outshot the Fury 37-27. Jillian Traver picked up the victory in goal for Rock County.
Monroe 4, Baraboo-Portage 2
MONROE — The Cheesemakers improved to 8-7-1 overall and 5-4 in the Badger Small with a solid win on Jan. 25.
Wyatt Janecke scored twice for Monroe, and Brody Goode and Patrick Alt also slipped shots past the netminder.
The Cheesemakers led 2-1 after the first and 3-1 through two periods. Monroe outshot Baraboo-Portage (2-14-2, 1-8-1) 46-27. Brock Brandli stopped 25 shots in net to get the victory for the Cheesemakers.
Cole Buholzer had two assists for Monroe. Alt and Janecke each had an assist as well.
Monroe sits in the middle of the pack in the Badger Small and is one win away from guaranteeing at least a .500 conference mark for the season.
Cedarburg 5, Beloit 4, 2 ot
MEQUON — The Knights let a 4-1 advantage in the third period slip away in a double-overtime loss Jan. 27 to Cedarburg.
Beloit (6-14) went up 2-0 in the first period on goals by Sam and Cole Rowald. In the third, Beloit went ahead 4-1 nine minutes in thanks to goals from Max Allen and Cole Rowald.
Cedarburg scored three goals in less than three minutes to even the score at 4-4 with just under five minutes to play. The two squads then skated out the rest of the third period and the first period of overtime without another goal. Less than three minutes into the second overtime, Cedarburg’s Eli King put the puck past Beloit goalie Gentry Grant to cap the comeback victory. Grant had 23 saves in the game, while his counterpart, Jack Just, had 36 saves.
