Wausau Pilot & Review
WESTON – The Central Wisconsin Storm is heading to the WIAA State Girls Hockey Tournament after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Hayward in a sectional final matchup Friday night at the Greenheck Fieldhouse Ice Center.
The Storm (21-3) will compete in their 14th state tournament in past 15 seasons when it plays a semifinal Thursday at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Seedings and pairings will be announced Sunday.
Following a scoreless first period, Madi De Puydt scored off assists from Logan Crawford and Ava Rode 5:42 into the second period to give the Storm a 1-0 lead.
Gabi Heuser added a goal on assists from Tristan Wicklund and Rode 1:32 into the third period and the 2-0 lead held until Hayward scored with 1:01 remaining in the game.
The Storm held the Hurricanes off the scoreboard in the final minute to preserve the win as goalie Chloe Lemke had 24 saves.
The Storm has won three state titles, with those coming in 2008, 2012 and 2017. They lost in the semifinals last season.
Storm 2, Hurricanes 1
Hayward 0 0 1 – 1
Central Wisconsin 0 1 1 – 2
Second period: 1. CW, Madi De Puydt (Logan Crawford, Ava Rode), 5:42.
Third period: 2. CW, Gabi Heuser (Tristan Wicklund, Rode), 1:23; 3. H, Reese Sheehan (Hadley Owen, Makaela Reinke), 15:59.
Saves: H, Greta Woelber 20; CW, Chloe Lemke 24.
Records: Hayward 15-10; Central Wisconsin 21-3.
