The first day of the State Boys Hockey Tournament advanced for teams to the semifinals Friday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
Wausau West scored three goals during a three minute span in the second period to fuel a 4-3 win over Appleton East Co-op in the nightcap of the quarterfinals Thursday evening. The Warriors outshot United 33-22 in the game.
A goal frenzy in the first period gave Madison Memorial a 4-1 lead en route to a 4-3 win in the third semifinal. Eau Claire Memorial scored early in the third period to cut the deficit to 4-2. The Old Abes added another goal with under a minute to play to make things interesting, but the Spartan were able to hang on in the final 40 seconds of the game.
In the second afternoon quarterfinal, Grant Hanson scored a Superior goal at 4:38 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie, and Beau Reder added an empty-net goal with under a minute to play to give the Spartans a 4-2 victory over Janesville Parker/Craig to advance to the State semifinals.
Cedarburg comes back from an early deficit to win the first State quarterfinal of the WIAA State Boys Hockey Tournament, 3-2, over Reedsburg Co-op. The game-winning goal was scored by James Furey at 3:17 of the third period. Dylan Brown scored a pair of goals for Reedsburg to lead the offensive attack.
Cedarburg will play Superior in one semifinal, starting at 5 p.m. Madison Memorial will duel Wausau West in the second semifinal at approximately 7:15 p.m. The girls semifinals begin action Friday with Onalaska Co-op versus University School Co-op at 11 a.m. followed by Hayward Co-op against D.C. Everest Co-op at approximately 1:15 p.m.