MONROE — The Cheesemakers entered their Jan. 9 game against McFarland riding an 11-game win streak. They also were tied with Madison Edgewood at the top of the Badger South standings. 

The Spartans (10-2, 5-1, ranked fifth in the Wisconsin Prep Hockey rankings released Jan. 6) not only posed a challenge on the ice, but also were to be a gauge for the Cheesemakers to see just how well they matched up among the state’s best teams.

“It was a great hockey game. I was very happy with the way our guys performed tonight — their effort was great,” Monroe coach Barry Einbeck said. “McFarland is the (fifth) ranked team in Division 2 right now, and we just lost to them 4-3. That’s a positive right there — you’re going toe-to-toe with a very good hockey team, and that should build your confidence. And that shows them that if we do come out and work hard and stay in our structure of play, good things will happen.”

Monroe held their ground, and looked fabulous outside of the final four minutes of the second period. During those 240 seconds, however, the Spartans turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead — a score that would hold until the final whistle.

Both teams skated through a scoreless first period despite ample opportunities to score, and it was McFarland that struck first in the second. Cheesemakers forward Cooper Dreyfus was taken to the ground on a no-call in the Monroe offensive zone, and the Spartans rushed up ice on a breakaway. Jack Bartzen passed off to Grant Newcomer, who snapped a shot passed Cheesemakers goalie Heath Bear just 3:10 into the frame.

“I don’t want to say the first period was a feeling-out process — because both teams played hard and were going at it — but I think in the second (period), once that first goal went in, it kind of energized everyone,” Einbeck said.

The Cheesemakers responded with haste. 

After McFarland killed a Monroe power play, the Cheesemakers put a rush on the net. With 10:14 left in the second, senior Luke Kuberski lit the lamp to tie the score at 1, with Kaiden Klitzke and Ryan Molitor netting assists.

“We talked about at intermission what to do if they scored first; how to not hang their heads and respond — and they did. And then all of a sudden it became like two heavyweights giving blows — one would score and then the other would score. That’s what you want — you want to see your kids respond,” Einbeck said.

Before the packed stands at SLICE could catch their breath from cheering, the Cheesemakers made it 2-1, as a quick rush to the net led to Dreyfus smacking a rebound into the net, beating McFarland goalie August Hoel just 13 seconds after the puck dropped.

“I just shot the puck, the rebound came out, and I tried to make the most of it — I saw the open net and it felt great to see it going in,” said Dreyfus, who was playing in his first game back after a two-week vacation.

The busy second continued trucking right along, as McFarland tied it up less than a minute later on a Max Binger deflection. 

Not to be intimidated, the Cheesemakers again responded in quick fashion. Cade Janecke stole the puck from the Spartans near mid-ice and flipped a pass to Hayden Roth on a breakaway. Roth beat Hoel stick side to make it 3-2 Monroe.

With 4:05 left in the second, Monroe senior Payton Stauffacher was whistled for a two-minute elbow minor after a ferocious check on a McFarland player in the Monroe offensive zone. With 27 seconds left in the power play, Bartzen tied it up, snapping a shot past Bear off a rebound. 

The Spartans dominated puck possession in the closing minutes of the second, even at full strength. With less than a minute left in the frame, the Cheesemakers grabbed ahold of possession and tried to rush the net in transition, only to lose the puck near the blueline. McFarland’s Jack McGinn slapped home the game winner from the blue line with just 18 seconds left in the second.

“I think the story of the game were the last two minutes of that second period — they kind of got us. We talked about it at the end of the second period that you have to try to play the full 17-minute period, and I thought that we did really well up until that point,” Einbeck said.

Monroe came out of the locker room looking to find the equalizer, but shot after shot was knocked away by Hoel.

“I was very happy with our response in the third; we came right out with them and had a couple of chances. Their goalkeeper made a stop on a tip in front, and with about four minutes left, if we get that in there and tie it up, who knows what happens,” Einbeck said.

The Cheesemakers had two power play opportunities in the period — one with 8:36 to play and another with 5:46 left, but each time the Spartans were able to kill off Monroe’s one-man advantage. Einbeck called a timeout with 1:08 left, trying to come up with a game plan to sneak in another goal, but it was not to be.

Roth and Janecke each had two points for Monroe, with Janecke notching two assists. Roth is tied for sixth in the state in scoring with 20 goals and is eighth in total points with 37. Bear had 36 saves in net to Hoel’s 33. The two teams will play out the rest of their schedules before meeting again Feb. 11 — the final regular season game for the Cheesemakers.

“It was definitely more fast-paced than I think any game we’ve played all year — which is fun for us. It was a little more competition than some teams we’ve faced. It was a lot of fun,” Roth said. “We thought we were pretty even coming into it, and I think it showed on the ice that we are pretty even.”

With the loss, the Cheesemakers trail McFarland and Edgewood (10-4, 5-0) in the Badger South standings by a win. Both the Spartans and the Crusaders have five wins on the season — however, Edgewood defeated McFarland 6-2 in a December meeting, leaving the Crusaders with an advantage down the stretch. Monroe is two wins clear of Oregon and Monona Grove, both of which the Cheesemakers have already defeated once this season.

“I think they can learn too from the loss that if they over-pursue at some parts of the game, or if they get themselves out of position or are not back-checking enough, that’s where games are won and lost. Sometimes you have to lose a game to figure that out. Our kids are learning and they have responded so well this year,” Einbeck said.