MONROE — The Rock County Fury were all smiles after a 10-0 win over Beaver Dam Jan. 30 at SLICE. That elation was replicated two nights later following a 3-2 road win at Madison Metro Lynx.

The pair of Badger Conference victories has the Fury sitting two points off the pace of Cap City for the conference crown. The two squads will meet Feb. 13 at Sun Prairie in a game that will likely determine if the league title will be shared or won outright. Metro Lynx have three games remaining, all against teams underneath them in the standings, and if the Fury knock off Cap City, it could mean a three-way tie for the conference championship.

“We’ve still got a chance at the conference title. It’d be a tri-championship, so we’d have to split it with all three,” Monroe junior Anika Einbeck said.

The blowout victory over Beaver Dam started as a headscratcher. The Fury outshot Beaver Dam 30-1 and hit the post another four times in the opening period but went into the locker room in a scoreless tie. In fact, Beaver Dam only pushed the puck into the Fury zone seven times, three of which were for icing. The Beavers’ only rush on goal nearly went into the back of the net on a breakaway, but the shot went just wide past the outstretched arms of Brodhead senior goalie Brooke Teubert.

“First period isn’t normally our best period,” Einbeck said. “As the game got going, we picked up the pace a little bit.”

Head coach Luke Steurer made a couple of suggestions for his forwards.

“I think we hit the post four times in that first period,” Steurer said. “We talked about getting better shots — aiming to the corners a little bit more instead of aiming for the goalie’s stomach. We wanted to move the puck a little bit faster in the bottom of the zone and catch them off guard.”

The second period was a different story than the first. While the shots on goal were nearly identical in the second (32-2) as they were in the first (30-1), the Fury lit the lamp seven times. 

“We had kind of a rough start, but by the end we were kind of cycling around and working together,” said Albany junior Alyssa Knauf, who finished with a hat trick and reached the 100-point career milestone. “We weren’t really taking quality shots, just kind of putting the puck on net. Once we started slowing it down and not panicking, we got a lot through. It’s a lot more fun when you’re up by that much — it’s a great time with your friends.”

Knauf got the scoring started just 32 seconds into the frame, scoring on a snap from 25 feet out off of passes from Einbeck and sister Haley Knauf. Alyssa would make it 2-0 less than five minutes later on a power play, and the rout was on from there.

Alyssa finished the game with three goals — the third goal came with 6:07 left in the second, making it 5-0 and giving Alyssa 100 career points.

“It was fun to watch. Anika and I got it, and we were just waiting for Alyssa. We were both out there with her, just as we expected we’d be,” said Haley, who reached the 100-point milestone a week prior in the same game as Einbeck in the 100-point club. “We’re just so proud of her. I’m proud of both of them — all three of us in our line reached the milestone.”

The Fury led 7-0 after the second period and put on three more goals in the third with a running clock. Eleven Fury players recorded points in the game, including Orangeville’s Anna Malone, who had a goal and three assists, and Lena-Winslow’s Sarah Edler, who assisted on her squad’s final goal of the night.

The game marked the final time Teubert and Haley Knauf would play at SLICE. Haley said it was bittersweet.

“It’s been so fun. I’ve been playing with them since I started hockey. I couldn’t imagine not playing with them — Team Wisconsin, Team Fury; they’ve always been on my line and my best friends since Day 1,” Haley said of playing with her sister and Einbeck for the past 12 years, from youth hockey to high school and Team Wisconsin.

The Fury out-shot Beaver Dam 79-5 in the game. Claudia Boehlke, Jena Loerke, Sara Loerke, Sara Nerad and Presley Kovacevich all scored for Rock County.

“It was definitely fun getting everybody in and watching them score from all the lines,” Steurer said.

Teubert is the backup to usual starter Olivia Cronin of Beloit Memorial, but she made the most of playing time, pitching the shutout in front of the home crowd, which included the Brodhead High School pep band.

“It was super exciting. I’m glad they came and supported me. It was just a fun experience, even though I don’t play all the time,” Teubert said. “I’ve been asking my band director for three years now (to attend) and he was finally able to make one. I’m really glad they did.”

Einbeck was also pleased with the home crowd, and the chance to play with her senior teammates one last time at SLICE.

“It’s amazing — you only get two games here, so you’ve got to make them count,” Einbeck said. “It makes you work a little bit harder. Especially getting the Brodhead band to come down here and play. It’s always nice to get a few extra family and friends around to watch.”

Rock County’s defense aided Teubert’s scoreless evening, allowing just five shots on goal.

“The team worked hard for me,” Teubert said.

Two days later in the win over Metro Lynx, Rock County found itself trailing 1-0 after the first period. Late in the second, Sara Loerke was able to tie the score off a pass from Claudia Boehlke. Less than 45 seconds later, Madison went back ahead, however.

In the third period, Alyssa Knauf lit the lamp with just over 11 minutes to play. Einbeck and Haley Knauf assisted. Sarah Loerke scored the game-winner on a power play nearly three minutes later on a pass from Einbeck.

Madison out-shot Rock County 31-28. Cronin got the win in the net, recording 29 saves.

The Knauf sisters each have 43 points on the season, which is tied for the sixth most in the state. Einbeck is tied for third with 51. Einbeck is second in Wisconsin with 30 assists and tied for eighth with 21 goals; Alyssa Knauf is tied for seventh in goals (22) and sixth in assists (21); and Haley is fourth in assists (24). 

Haley Knauf said she plans to attend Aurora University in Illinois next year to play hockey. She said she has a few other schools in mind as a backup, but “Aurora is definitely my No. 1 right now.” She plans on making an official announcement on her commitment before the end of the season.