ONALASKA — The Onalaska/La Crosse boys hockey co-op didn’t get off to the best of starts on Tuesday, but it walked out of the OmniCenter with a piece of the MVC championship after a successful comeback against the Aquinas/Holmen co-op.
The Hilltoppers allowed three goals in the first 7 minutes, 14 seconds but scored twice in the second period and twice in the third while holding the Avalanche scoreless after the first in a 5-4 victory that left all three conference schools tied with 2-2 records.
Junior Jackson Egan scored with assists from Liam Branson and Matt Tillman at 9:12 of the third to break a 4-4 tie and give Onalaska/La Crosse a split with Aquinas/Holmen in the regular-season series. Tillman scored twice in addition to his assist in what became the winner for the Hilltoppers (11-10, 2-2).
Tillman got Onalaska/La Crosse going after the Avalanche (9-9-1, 2-2) jumped out to a 4-1 lead after one period. He converted a pass from Sawyer Meyer at 1:38 in the second, and teammate Lukas Suchan turned a Richie Baker pass into an assist at 14:47 to get the Hilltoppers within 4-3.
Grayson Andel then tied the game with an assist from Parker Lycke at 2:29 of the third before Egan broke that tie. Tillman also scored in the first with an assist from Lycke.
Jack Barth, James Siegert, Casey Keane and Brody Slusser all scored for the Avalanche. Slusser’s answered Tillman’s first goal and was assisted on by Ayden Dirks for the 4-1 advantage. Slusser, Keane and Hunter Downing also had assists for Aquinas/Holmen.
Josh Pogreba took over for Onalaska/La Crosse in goal after the Avalanche took their 3-0 lead and stopped 23 of the 24 shots he faced the rest of the way.
GIRLS
Rochester Mayo 5, Coulee Region 0
WEST SALEM — The Cyclones (4-11-1) were shut out at the Panther Den after allowing two goals in the first period and two more in the second.
Grace Johnsonrude had 28 saves for Coulee Region.
AREA BOYS HOCKEY SCORE
Tomah/Sparta 6, Baraboo/Portage 3
AREA GIRLS HOCKEY SCORE
Beaver Dam 3, Viroqua co-op 1
