MILWAUKEE — The Cheesemakers gave up a 2-1 lead in the third period, as Ryan Anderson scored the game-winning goal for the Ice Force with eight seconds left. With the loss, Monroe’s season comes to and end in the first round of the WIAA playoffs on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

“We lost a heart breaker,” Monroe head coach Barry Einbeck said. “They didn’t deserve to lose the game. We out-played them.”

Monroe outshot Muskego 30-29 and spent two less minutes in the penalty box. Both teams were able to score one power-play goal, though.

The Ice Force scored first with a power-play goal while Seth Brandt was in the box. In the second period, though, Brandt responded with a goal in the first 17 seconds. Nathan Ratke then took the lead with a power-play goal.

Halfway through the third period, Muskego tied the game up on a goal from Alex Krowski. The Cheesemakers held off the Ice Force for the remainder of the period, looking to take it into overtime, but Anderson’s goal ended those hopes.

Muskego, seeded No. 6, received two points from Howie Mahnke, both on assists. In goal, Sam Siepert made 28 saves. Brandt led Monroe, seeded No. 11, with two points from one goal and one assist. In net, Xander Obert made 26 saves. 

The Cheesemakers end their season with a 9-13 record. Wyatt Janecke led the offense with 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points. Patrick Alt and Brandt also recorded 10 assists on the season. Easton Dreyfus was the second-leading scorer with 12 goals. Obert and Kyle Theorin played 21 and 20 games in net, respectively. Obert went 5-10 with an .875 save percentage, while Theorin posted a 4-3 record with an .841 save percentage.

The team graduates seven seniors in Cash Anderson, Haden Barker, Nolan Bodenstein, Brandt, Obert, Dreyfus and Ratke.

MARQUETTE 6, BELOIT 2

BROOKFIELD — The Purple Knights’ underclassmen came to play, as freshman Marcus Allen and sophomore Logan Tysse scored in Beloit’s WIAA regional loss on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

After a goal from Marquette’s Nevan Kearney, Tysse tied the game with assists from Jaxon Walenga and Sam Rowald.

The Knights limited the damage in the second period to just one goal, but the Hilltoppers blew the top off in the third period with four goals in a matter of eight minutes. Marcus Allen was able to score in the ninth minute, but Beloit couldn’t muster another goal.

Marquette received three points from three players: Michael Catherall, Keegan Kowalke and Kearney. In net, Dirk Pawlak recorded 24 saves. For Beloit, Jameson Flanagan stopped 44 of 50 shots for an .880 save percentage.