Spartan girls skate past Chippewa Falls on Senior Night

The Superior High School girls hockey team celebrated Senior Night with a 3-2 win over Chippewa Falls Tuesday at the Superior Ice Arena.

Seniors honored were Paige Gilbertson, Kelsey Reder and Kari Miller. They were joined on the ice by 10 termite girl hockey players, ages (ages 3-5) from the Superior Amateur Hockey Association.

“We had a great evening and I really feel our team is starting to pull it together at the right time as we get ready for playoffs,” SHS coach Ernie Harker said. “This win is a big positive in the team’s confidence after so many hard fought battles this season and coming up just short.”

Gilbertson scored the only goal of the first period on a power play with an assist from Miller.

Amanda Hinaus gave the Spartans a 2-0 lead with another power-play goal in the second period with the assists going to Miller and Sadey Laurick.

Chippewa Falls made it a 2-1 lead in the second period on Payton Rudiger’s goal, but on the ensuing face off Laurvick picked up the puck after the face off, skated around a fallen Chippewa Falls defender and scored on the breakaway.

Chippewa Falls made things exciting when with Sydney Schneider’s goal at the 12-minute mark.

Superior caught a break when it went on a power play with 2:27 remaining.

“This really gave us enough to keep the pressure on then” Harker said.

Chippewa Falls call its time out with 27 seconds left, but the Spartans were able to keep enough pressure on in the offensive end of the ice and not give Chippewa Falls enough time to pull its goalie until there was only 20 seconds left on the clock.

Gilbertson finally held the puck along the end boards to run out the clock.

Chippewa Falls made it a 3-2 game on Justine Stenberg finished with 20 saves for the Spartans, who had 20 shots on goal.

“Justine had a solid performance and gave us the chance to win,” SHS coach Ernie Harker said.

SHS had two minor penalties and Chippewa Falls had four.

The Spartans were coming off a 2-1 loss Thursday night at Silver Bay.

After two scoreless periods, Tori Stevens and Rebecca Dilley gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead in the third period.

Miller scored for Superior, with an assist from Laurvick, with 4:29 remaining.

Stenberg of Superior and Cassie Swanson of SBA both had 24 saves.

Superior (3-14-1) plays a make-up game with Eau Claire at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the Hobbs Arena in Eau Claire.

SPARTAN SPIN: The Spartans also play at New Richmond at 2 p.m. Saturday before wrapping up their regular season against the Siren Blizzard in another make-up game at 5:15 p.m. Monday at the Superior Ice Arena. … The Spartans we given the No. 7 seed for the upcoming WIAA playoffs and will play No. 2 River Falls at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14 at the United Civic Center in Baldwin.

Chippewa Falls 0-0-2—2

Superior 1-1-1—3

First period — 1. SHS, Paige Gilbertson (Kari Miller), 6:29 (pp).

Secpond period — 2. SHS, Amanda Hinaus (Miller, Sadey Laurvick), 13:47 (pp).

Third period — 3. CF, Payton Rudiger (Kayla Bowe), 2:05; 4. SHS, Laurvick, 2:11; 5. CF, Sydney Schneider (Taylor Rudiger), 12:38.

Saves — Lauren Scobie, CF, 18; Justine Stenberg, SHS, 20.

Superior 0-0-1—1

Silver Bay Area 0-0-2—2

First period — No scoring.

Second period — No scoring.

Third period — 1. SB, Tori Stevens (Nicole Jaeger, Rebecca Dilley), 1:32 (pp); 2. SB, Dilley (Anna Carman), 8:16; 3. SHS, Kari Miller (Sadey Laurvick), 12:31.

Saves — Justine Stenberg, SHS, 24; Cassie Swanson, SBA, 24.

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