The Middleton Cardinals spoiled the finish to an
awesome regular season for the Sauk Prairie Eagles varsity hockey team and snapped their four-game winning streak with a 3-2 edge at Sauk Prairie Area Recreation Center (SPARC) Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles couldn’t have had a better start to the game as the state’s leading point-getter, Riley Jelinek converted a feed from Nick Mast just 18 seconds in to get the Eagles on the board first. Senior Cam Desroches also collected an assist.
The lead didn’t last long though as Cardinals’ senior Jake Jorden notched the equalizer just 64 seconds later.
The Cardinals scored the lone goal of the second period, senior Brian Frusicante pulling the trigger.
Desroches slammed home a pass from Jelinek who collected his 85th and final point of the regular season to tie it up 7:16 into the final period but the game
winner came from freshman Garrett Ballweg with 5:53 to play.
The Eagles held a 33-19 edge in shots overall, including a 12-4 edge in the final period.
The loss, just the second on home ice for the Eagles this season will see their quest for a 20-W campaign carrying into
the post season as they wrap up a nonetheless awesome 19-4-1 season.
The Eagle will open the post season as the number four seed in Section 3, beginning on home ice against the Madison Lafollette/Madison East Lakers. The winner of that contest will advance to play either Madison West Regents or Deforest Norskies on either Thursday or Friday. If the Eagles win, that Sectional quarterfinal match will also be a home game.
Sauk Hockey 