Badger Lightning Fall 3-2 to Brookfield Glacier on Late Third-Period Goal

A late third-period goal by Brookfield’s Madeline MacLeod broke a tie and sent the Badger Lightning to a 3-2 loss against the visiting Brookfield Glacier on Friday night at Lake Delton Ice Arena.

The Lightning carried a 2-1 lead into the third period, but Brookfield seized momentum early in the final frame. Just two minutes into the period, Jemma Schultz converted for the Glacier with an assist from Dylan Savage to pull the game even at 2-2. The teams traded chances for more than 12 minutes of tense, up-and-down hockey before MacLeod struck again, netting the go-ahead tally that stood as the game-winner.

Badger Lightning goaltender Olivia Renneberg turned in a standout performance in the loss, stopping 42 of 45 shots for a .933 save percentage. Renneberg’s steady play kept the Lightning in the game as Brookfield generated sustained pressure and traffic around the net throughout all three periods. At the other end, Brookfield netminder Georgianna Janet finished with 15 saves on 17 shots, posting an .882 save percentage.

Brookfield opened the scoring early after the Lightning were whistled for an interference penalty just over a minute into the game. The Glacier capitalized on the power play when MacLeod scored her first of the night, assisted by Ella Vranek. The Lightning answered later in the first period on a power play of their own. After a body-checking penalty to Vranek, Badger’s man-advantage unit went to work, with Kjerstan Hagen tipping in a point shot from Jenna Garbacz. Dayana Wade started the play with a cross-ice pass to Garbacz at the blue line to set up the tying goal.

The second period began quietly on the scoreboard, but the Lightning eventually broke through to take their first lead. After seven minutes of scoreless play, Haydee Meyer found Martha Weiss alone in the slot, and Weiss finished to give the Lightning a 2-1 advantage. Paige Othmer also earned an assist on the play. Badger later had a prime opportunity to extend the lead on a five-minute major power play following a head-contact penalty assessed to MacLeod, but the Lightning were unable to convert during the extended advantage.

The missed chance on the major penalty loomed large as the game moved into the third period. Brookfield came out of the intermission with renewed energy, quickly tying the game on Schultz’s goal before eventually taking the lead on MacLeod’s second of the night. Trailing 3-2 late, the Lightning pulled Renneberg with 1:36 remaining to create a 6-on-5 advantage and pressed for the equalizer, but Brookfield held firm in the defensive zone to close out the win.

Despite the loss, the Lightning showed resilience in building a two-goal comeback effort into a third-period battle, backed by Renneberg’s strong night in net and timely scoring from Hagen and Weiss. The performance offered positives at both ends of the ice as the team looks to build on its special-teams execution and late-game push in upcoming contests.

During the JV game, the Badger Lightning and Brookfield Glacier battled in the first period, with the game being scoreless until Brookfield’s Riley Piwowarczyk netted the first goal of the game with 1:32 left in the frame. With 44 seconds left in the period Piwowarczyk buried her second one of the night on an assist by Helena Horner. 

Brookfield went on the power play early in the second period and they extended their lead to 3-0 on a goal by Dylan Savage. The Lighting wouldn’t go away quietly however, with Caydence Putz pounding one home, assisted by Ally Herbrand and Kapri Rabine. The Lightning were able to get on the power play to try and generate some offense, but Brookfield had an aggressive penalty kill, leading to a shorthanded goal by Peyton Koshere. With under three minutes to play, Brookfield put away their fifth and final goal of the night, Abigail Koch put the goal away on an assist by Abigail Bauer. 

In the net for the Badger Lightning was sophomore forward Kjersten Hagen. Hagen stepped into the role to help the JV squad play their games. She had 12 saves on 17 shots. Vivian Wex for the Glacier saved 24 of 25 shots.