Go to link below to follow Sectional #8 schedule & game results
www.wiaawi.org/Sports/BoysHockey.aspx
Fond du Lac blanked in loss to Cedarburg 3 – 0
MEQUON – No one could say the Fond du Lac boys hockey team didn’t have its chances Tuesday night. The Cardinals just couldn’t cash in. When that happens in the playoffs, more often than not it spells the end of the season.
Fond du Lac had ample opportunities at the net on Tuesday, but could never capitalize as the fourth-seeded Cardinals fell 3-0 to top-seeded Cedarburg in a WIAA sectional semifinal game at Ozaukee Ice Center in Mequon. “I thought we accomplished what we needed to and the kids played hard. We had some opportunities early where I think we could have flipped the game around,” Fond du Lac coach Ryan Sarazin said. “They obviously have a good goalie and a good defensive team and it was tough to break.”
Fond du Lac (11-14-1) actually outshot the Bulldogs for the game, getting 31 chances on goal compared to 28 for Cedarburg (22-2-2). But the Bulldogs showed why they’re the No. 1 seed and the favorite to advance to state out of the sectional.
When Cedarburg had a chance to score, it found a way. It started midway through the first period, when Cedarburg’s Nick Russo ripped a shot from the blue line past Fond du Lac goalie William Shober — who had 25 saves. Following a scoreless second period, the Bulldogs struck again early in the third, when Tom Bibby corralled the puck on a breakaway and beat Shober for a 2-0 Cedarburg lead. The Bulldogs’ final goal game with just over a minute left when Evan Gabel scored on an empty-netter. Drew Decker had two assists for Cedarburg, while Jesse Ward, Jan Hora and Kyle Samera all added one. Matt McCoy played a flawless game in goal, recording 31 saves.
It’s certainly hard to blame the loss on the play of the Fond du Lac defense, which in essence allowed only two goals to a high-scoring squad. “I was really proud (of the defense),” Sarazin said. “I thought we were intense. Our defensive zone was on track. There was one screen shot from the point and a transition goal (from Cedarburg) and we just couldn’t get that goal early to get some energy offensively.”
Tuesday’s loss not only signals the end of the season for the Cardinals, but also the end of star forward Jack Nejedlo’s prep hockey career. After a knee injury derailed much of Nejedlo’s junior season, he came back stronger than ever as a senior — leading the team with 53 points. “Outstanding career,” Sarazin said of Nejedlo. “He’s just been a great leader to the program. He’s one of the more creative and visionary players on the ice that I’ve seen. He’ll obviously be missed.”
The one bright spot that comes out of Tuesday’s loss is the fact that even without Nejedlo, the Cardinals should bring back a strong team for 2015-16 as their roster is littered with juniors, sophomores and a few freshmen. While it was certainly an inconsistent season for Fond du Lac, Sarazin is happy with how his squad closed out the year and how it’s looking for the future. “Looking from start to finish, in a way it’s been an up-and-down season, but if you look at where our guys have come from and battled through I’m just very happy with their toughness,” he said. “I thought we played pretty well tonight and I was happy with the progress the guys made throughout the season. That’s all I can ask.”
Cedarburg will play in the sectional final Saturday against the University School of Milwaukee.
| FOND DU LAC | 0 | 0 | 0 | — 0 |
| Cedarburg | 1 | 0 | 2 | — 3 |
First period: CED — Nick Russo (Drew Decker), 10:55.
Third period: CED — Tom Bibby (Jesse Ward, Jan Hora), 1:34. CED — Evan Gabel (Decker, Kyle Samera), 15:57 PP.
Saves: FDL — William Shober, 25. CED — Matt McCoy, 31.
#4 Seed – Fond du Lac HS receives a 1st round bye
Will play the winner of #5 Homestead vs #12 Grafton Co-op game at FDL Blue Line – Thurs, Feb 19 8:00 pm
Fond du Lac shuts out Homestead 3 – 0
It’s been an up and down season for the Fond du Lac boys hockey team. There’s been impressive wins, but a fair share of equally unimpressive losses. Fortunately for the fourth-seeded Cardinals, they started out the postseason looking like the squad that can compete with just about anyone in the state.
Fond du Lac scored two early goals and kept fifth-seeded Mequon Homestead at bay from there as the Cardinals shut out the Highlanders 3-0 in a WIAA regional final playoff game Thursday night at Blue Line Family Ice Center. “I thought we got out early and I just thought our energy was good right from the beginning,” Fond du Lac coach Ryan Sarazin said. “Things didn’t quite go as planned and I knew the penalties would even out in the end. It was just a good, gritty team effort.”
Fond du Lac will advance to face the winner of Friday’s Cedarburg/Arrowhead game in a sectional semifinal next Tuesday.
Early on in Thursday’s game, Fond du Lac (11-13-1) took control and never allowed Homestead (14-11-1) to really make much of a comeback. Henry Lange scored at the 10:35 mark of the first period and Noah Wilson quickly followed with a goal of his own.
Caylen Dyni then capped off the game’s scoring midway through the second period. Jack Nejedlo had two assists for the Cardinals on Thursday, while Dyni, Dayne Hefter and Sam Todd all added one. However, the story of the game was the play of Fond du Lac’s defense, which included goalie William Shober and his 21 saves. The Highlanders had a few decent chances at goal, but the Cards never cracked. “Ever since we kind of got blown out by Neenah (in the Badgerland Conference tournament), we’ve had a full week to get back to basics, where we visited the defensive zone and started caring for that a little bit more,” Sarazin said. “It was important to reset, build from the goalie out.”
The win, especially in the form of a shutout over an opponent it tied 3-3 only a week ago, is a tremendous confidence-booster for Fond du Lac as it begins its postseason journey. The Cards will need it as the road only gets tougher from here, with a potential bout against top-seeded Cedarburg coming next week. “When you shut a team out, you’re feeling confident with your goaltender, you’re feeling confident in your defense,” Sarazin said. “We got some goal-scoring from a freshman and one from Noah (Wilson). So that was good to get some guys involved and I’m really happy with that.”
| MEQUON HOMESTEAD | 0 | 0 | 0 | — 0 |
| Fond du Lac | 2 | 1 | 0 | — 3 |
First period: FDL— Henry Lange (Jack Nejedlo), 10:35. FDL— Noah Wilson (Caylen Dyni, Dayne Hefter), 12:55.
Second period: FDL— Dyni (Nejedlo, Sam Todd), 8:10.
Saves: MH— David Hathaway, 20. FDL— William Shober, 21