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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
ASHLAND – Marshfield scored two power-play goals in the final 1:25, including the game-winner from Adam Maki with just four seconds left in the game, to defeat Ashland 5-4 in a WIAA boys hockey regional final Thursday at the Bay Area Civic Center.
Marshfield (12-13) will play at No. 1 seed Eau Claire Memorial (20-2-2) at Hobbs Ice Arena on Feb. 20. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
Marshfield trailed 4-3 after a goal on a penalty shot by Scott Gregor with 5:05 remaining in the game.
The Tigers got the break it needed with a late 5-minute major penalty on Ashland and took advantage.
Evan Weister scored on an assist from Isaiah Baierl and Isaac Wellens with 1:25 to go, and Maki hit the game winner on an assist from Nate Boson just before the final horn to give Marshfield a regional title.
“Our team never gave up,” Marshfield coach Eric Bowman said. “Our power play came through when we needed it most with two late third-period goals to get out of Ashland with a win. We need to be better in our defensive zone, as we gave them some really quality opportunities in the third period that our goaltender bailed us out on. We are proud of the boys for winning a regional final on the road and playing the entire game through the end of the third period.”
A.J. Trierweiler had 30 saves in goal for the Tigers.
Max Heller scored in the first period and Baierl added a goal just 28 seconds in to the second to put Marshfield up 2-0.
Ashland responded with a pair of goals before Marshfield regained the lead on a goal by Boson 1:19 into the third period.
Ashland tied it and then went ahead on the penalty shot before the Tigers mounted their comeback.
Tigers 5, Oredockers 4
Marshfield 1 1 3 – 5
Ashland 0 2 2 – 4
First period: 1. M, Max Heller (Isaiah Baierl), 10:33.
Second period: 2. M, Baierl (Ben Baur, Isaac Wellens), 0:28; 3. A, Eric Boehler (Matt Gregor), 2:04; 4. A, Gregor, sh., 9:50.
Third period: 5. M, Nate Boson (Seth Peterson), 1:19; 6. A, Colin Trautt (Braden Syeaman, 5:25; 7. A, Scott Gregor (penalty shot), 11:55; 8. M, Evan Weister (Baierl, Wellens), pp., 15:35; 9. M, Adam Maki (Boson), pp., 16:56.
Saves: M, A.J. Trierweiler 30; A, Brandon Hudson 28.
Records: Marshfield 12-13; Ashland 15-8.