GIRLS
Team Wisconsin 4, Mid-American 3
In a rematch of last year's America's Showcase championship game, TW got revenge as they downed the Mid-American squad Saturday morning in Pittsburgh.
Mid-American scored late in the first and carried a slim 1-0 lead over TW into the middle stanza.
TW got the next two goals to take a 2-1 lead. First, Baileigh Johnson scored 'all by herself' two minutes into the middle period to tie the contest. Then, eight minutes later, Victoria Nelson repeated the 'solo act' to put TW up 2-1.
Mid-American tied the game moments later and the teams skated off for the second break with the scoreboard showing 2-2.
It took over 11 minutes, but TW went ahead again on a goal by Alyssa Heim, with assists to Brie Larkowski and Ky Jansen.
Once again, Mid-American battled back and tied the score three minutes later, setting up a wild finish in the last three minutes of play.
But it would be TW for the win, as Abby Anderson scored the game-winner with 46 seconds left. Eve Lundin assisted on the goal.
Mid-American held a 37-28 shot edge, with TW's Ivy Shonka stopping 34 of them.
Atlantic Red 3, Team Wisconsin 2
TW had the misfortune of running into a hot goalie tandem, as the duo of Alexia Papoutsis and Morgan Cassiliano combined to stop 52 of 54 shots in a 3-2 loss in Saturday night's first semifinal game.
Atlantic held a 1-0 lead in the middle of the first when Abby Anderson scored at the 9:13 mark to tie the game. That's how the period ended.
Emma Kysely gave TW a 2-1 lead just two minutes into the second, but that was TW's last hurrah as Atlantic tied the game late in the period.
The game-winner came just 14 seconds into the final period.
TW goalie Sydney McKersie came off for an extra skater with about 1:30 left after a TW timeout, but they couldn't capitalize on the 'man advantage.'
Shots were 54-10, with McKersie finishing with seven saves.
TW completed its weekend with a mark of 3-1.
BOYS
TW fell behind early and made a valiant comeback, but fell short in a 4-2 loss in Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon.
Trailing by three goals early in the second, TW cut the lead to 3-1 on an unassisted goal by Matej Huncik at the 3:16 mark. With about six minutes left, TW went on a five-minute major PP but could not score to cut into the lead.
Steven Scheurer scored one minute into the third to make it 3-2. Braden LaPorte had an assist on the play.
Four minutes later Midwest scored to make the final 4-2.
TW outshot Midwest by a margin of 41-30, but Connor Close stopped 39 of those TW shots to earn the win. Jack Bostedt played well for TW, stopping 26 pucks.
BOYS
TW Juniors 3, Michigan Seniors 3
Eric Sinson scored late in the third to give TW a 3-3 tie Saturday afternoon in Plymouth, MN.
Jack Gorniak scored early in the first to give TW a 1-0 lead, with an assist from Hutson Collins. Michigan tied it late in the period and that was the score moving to the first break.
Michigan got the only tally of the second period and held a slim one-goal lead going into the final period.
CJ Harkins scored the equalizer early in the third, with an assist from Logan Braun.
Three minutes later Michigan went ahead again, setting up a wild finish.
Sinson's GTG came with 85 seconds left, with helpers to Josh Bohlin and Kylar Fenton.
TW held a 39-25 shot edge, with Colin Ahern stopping 22 shots for TW.
Wisconsin Seniors 3, North Dakota 3
TW had a 3-1 lead heading into the final period but couldn't hang on, but ended with a 3-3 tie Saturday afternoon in Plymouth, MN.
Tyler Jensen and Dawson Schwengler scored in the first for a 2-0 lead. Nick Techel and Wyatt Wilderman assisted on the goals.
North Dakota cut the lead to 2-1 in the middle of the second, but a scant 31 seconds later Connor Zilisch put TW ahead 3-1, with helpers to Matthew Gruber and Eric Swenson.
ND scored in the middle of the period to cut the lead to 3-2, and scored the tying goal with just eight seconds left.
Shots were 43-15, advantage TW. Ryan Kenny made 12 saves for the Badger boys.
Even though they tied, TW won 'B' pool and will play the Michigan Seniors (winner of 'A' pool) Sunday afternoon for the CCM NIT title.
GIRLS
Team Wisconsin 5, North Dakota 1
Amber Heidenreich scored twice and added an assist to lead TW to 5-1 win Saturday in Edina, MN.
ND grabbed an early lead just 24 seconds in, but it was all TW after that.
Amanda Sergent and Samantha Young each scored to give TW a 2-1 lead heading to the second. There was no scoring in the second.
Kendra Robinson scored a few minutes into the third, and then Heidenreich scored twice in a span of 2:51 to put the game out of reach late in the period.
TW held a 37-12 shot edge, with Ana Holzbach earning the win for TW with 11 saves.
The TW girls will play at 8:00am Sunday in the 3rd place game against Northern Midwest, whom they downed 4-1 on Thursday.
