Ash scores two goals in GNC opener
By Greg Seubert
Whether the Waupaca Area girls’ hockey team can repeat as Great Northern Conference champions remains to be seen, but the squad is off to a 3-0 start.
Waupaca Area handed Northern Edge a 2-1 loss Nov. 30 at the Waupaca Ice & Expo Center in the GNC opener for both teams and also picked up a pair of recent wins in Black River Falls.
Waupaca Area 2, Northern Edge 1
WAUPACA – Markie Ash scored both of Waupaca Area’s goals and has scored 10 of the squad’s 11 goals so far this season.
Meanwhile, goalie Cassie Rasmussen stopped 17 of Northern Edge’s 18 shots.
“She’s given up just one goal in two of our games,” coach Tim Guyer said. “She’s made some big saves for us, no question about it.”
Waupaca Area also held Northern Edge’s all-state player, Katie Detert, scoreless.
“She’s a nice player,” Guyer said. “She’s really fast, she shoots the puck really well, she has great hands. I thought our defenders matched up with her pretty darn well tonight.”
Ash put Waupaca Area on the board 3:12 into the game with an unassisted goal and made it 2-0 with a power play goal with 5:19 to go in the second period off of an assist from Avrey Simonson and Kylie Hiddemen.
Lindsey Steger cut Waupaca Area’s lead to 2-1 with an unassisted goal with 7:01 remaining in the third period, but that turned out to be the final score of the night. Detert spent the final 1:39 of the game in the penalty box after being called for a checking penalty.
Northern Edge had an 18-15 advantage in shots.
“The girls have so much fight in them and just won’t give up,” Guyer said. “That’s a pretty good team we beat tonight.”
Waupaca 6, Western Wis. 4
BLACK RIVER FALLS – Waupaca Area overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Stars Nov. 28 at the Milt Lunda Memorial Arena in Black River Falls.
Cassie Gravelle gave the Stars, a coop team from the New Richmond area, a 2-0 lead in the first period, but Ash answered with an unassisted goal to cut the lead to 2-1.
Josie Carlson made it 3-1 in the second period, but Ash came up with three goals later in the period to give Waupaca Area the lead for good.
Kylie Hiddemen assisted on the first two goals, while Anna Ryder picked up the assist on the third score.
Katarina Otter-Giese gave Waupaca Area a 5-3 lead in the third period with an unassisted goal. Shawnee Gremore made it 5-4 before Ash closed out the scoring with an unassisted goal.
Waupaca Area outshot the Stars 33-18 and Rasmussen finished with 29 saves.
Waupaca 3, BRF 1
BLACK RIVER FALLS – Ash had a hat trick and Rasmussen stopped 20 of the Tigers’ 21 shots Nov. 27.
Ash opened the scoring 2:17 into the game off of an assist from Otter-Giese.
Kaytlin Johnson tied the game later in the period, but Ash came up unassisted goals in the second period.
Waupaca Area will host Stevens Point/Wisconsin Rapids/Marshfield at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Expo.
“I didn’t know what to expect, to be honest,” Guyer said. “We’re ahead a little of what I thought we’d be doing, but who knows? We have talented players on our team, too.”