Go to link below for 2015-16 WIAA Sectional 8 bracket

http://halftime.wiaawi.org/CustomApps/Tournaments/Brackets/HTML/2016_Hockey_Boys_Div1_Sec5_8.html

#3 Fond du Lac   @ BlueLine Family Ice Center    Fri, Feb 19 8:00 PM

Winner of   #6 Homestead vs   #11 Beaver Dam/Dodgeland

Homestead upsets Fondy boys hockey team in OT

All season long, the Fond du Lac boys hockey team’s goal was to advance to the WIAA state tournament.

With one flick of the wrist, the Cardinals’ dreams came crashing down Friday night.

Mequon Homestead’s Cole DeStefanis scored 1:36 into overtime as the sixth-seeded Highlanders upset No. 3 seed Fond du Lac 4-3 in a WIAA regional final playoff game at Blue Line Family Ice Center.

“It was a back and forth game, a lot of emotion,” Fond du Lac coach Ryan Sarazin said. “A lot of momentum swings. I’m proud of our guys’ effort scratching from behind. … We fought back and gave ourselves an opportunity. In overtime, they just cashed in on that one chance they had early on.”

After a PJ Quale goal 2:38 into the third period gave Mequon Homestead (14-10-1) a 3-1 lead, it appeared as though the Highlanders just might run away with the game.

But Fond du Lac (12-12-1) wouldn’t go down that easily.

Less than 30 seconds after Quale’s goal, Caylen Dyni answered with a goal of his own for the Cardinals to put Fond du Lac right back in it. Then, on the power play at 11:52, Henry Lange scored to even up the game at three goals apiece.

The two teams would both have a few opportunities to score again in regulation, but neither could find the net.

DeStefanis’ goal in OT came off an assist from Joseph Verespej.

Sam Todd scored Fond du Lac’s first goal in the second period, while Joey Hobbs and Jackson Katz had Homestead’s first two.

Noah Wilson added two assists for the Cardinals and Thomas O’Leary and Kolton Sabel both had assists. Brooks Ralph had two assists for the Highlanders, while Hopps and Nathan Schimpf had one apiece.

Trailing 3-1 early in the third period and with momentum firmly on Homestead’s side, it would have been easy for Fond du Lac to pack it in and call it a season. But the Cardinals battled back and never gave up hope, something the pleased Sarazin.

“They were calm and collected on the bench and just said ‘Let’s get it done,'” Sarazin said. “They responded right away, which was good. It gave us some energy. Then they capitalized on the power play and tied it up. From there, anybody can put the puck to the net. To (Homestead’s) credit, they had the good opportunity in overtime and made us pay. But it was good resolve by our seniors and they didn’t want to go down without a fight.”

For a senior group that had dreams of returning to Madison, Friday’s result was certainly a disappointing one. But Sarazin was still proud of his Class of 2016, which included first team All-Badgerland Conference performers Dyni and goalie William Shober.

“It’s hard to talk to them and say goodbye, but I know they gave everything they had,” Sarazin said. “They were fun to come coach at the rink every day.”

Homestead advances to face No. 2 seed Waupun on Tuesday in sectional semifinals.

MEQUON HOMESTEAD 1 1 1 1 — 4
Fond du Lac 0 1 2 0 — 3

First period: MH— Joey Hobbs (Brooks Ralph), 9:56.

Second period: FDL— Sam Todd (Thomas O’Leary, Kolton Sabel), 2:36. MH— Jackson Katz (Ralph), 11:28.

Third period: MH— PJ Quale (Nathan Schimpf, Hobbs), 2:38. FDL— Caylen Dyni (Noah Wilson), 3:03. FDL— Henry Lange (Wilson), 11:52 PP.

Overtime: MH— Cole DeStefanis (Joseph Verespej), 1:36.