Abes Win

The Old Abes had opportunities to pad their lead in the third period, but couldn't seem to figure out Superior goalie Kyle Johnson.

But the disappearance of their finishing touch seemed to matter little.

Memorial's lone goal of the third was an empty net tally and the Old Abes set a record that means more to them than the rest of the records they’ve broken this year combined, becoming the first team in school history to make it to the WIAA boys state hockey tournament final by virtue of their 4-1 win over Superior on Friday night at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.

Memorial grabbed its second win over Superior this season – and fourth straight—to advance to play Madison Edgewood in the state final today at approximately 2:30 p.m.
A little more than a day removed for its first goalless game of the season, Memorial’s top line responded with authority, scoring the first two goals of the game to help lead the Memorial offense that peppered Superior goalie Kyle Johnson with 36shots in the game.

The Spartans capitalized on a power play opportunity, tying the game at 2-2.
Noah Gilbertson took a pass from Tim Smith and sent a slap shot past Sand to tie the game.

Shayne McLaughlin put the Old Abes on top when he poked a Jefferson Dahl rebound past Superior's Kyle Johnson to regain one-goal advantage for the Old Abes.
McLaughlin broke into the offensive zone and threw a shot on net that sailed wide and bounced to a waiting Jefferson Dahl at the right side of the net. Dahl tried to sneak a shot past Johnson, who made the save but allowed the rebound to go right to McLaughlin for the 2-1 advantage.

A first-period penalty hurt the Old Abes when Pat Dalbec finished a 3-on-2 breakaway for the equalizer.

After Mike Miettenun was stopped on a breakaway opportunity, Dalbec got the puck back and skated in between the circles to power the goal past Memorial's Brady Sand.
It didn't take long for the Memorial offense to get into the swing of things. Just 38seconds into the contest, Jefferson Dahl scored his first goal of the tournament, tipping in a Ben Kincaid shot from the blue-line to take the early advantage.

Dahl set up the play by digging the puck out of the corner to the left of Superior netminder Kyle Johnson, sending a pass to Kincaid and then breaking to the net to tip in the tally.