The girls hockey team, co-oped with a few players from Northwestern, took on a big challenge having to face off against St. Croix Valley Fusion in the first round of the state tournament taking place in Middleton on March 3, 2026. The Fusion is a co-op team with girls from River Falls, St. Croix Falls and Baldwin-Woodville. The game would not go the way that the Spartans had hoped with a seven to four loss. The Spartans earned their ticket to state last week in a win over Northern Pines earning the third seed for the state tournament.
The Spartans started the game off hot with freshman forward Lila Sislo scoring early in the first period with assists from junior forward Adelynn Sevrin and senior defense Lexi Kimmes. The Fusion would answer back with a goal tying the game at the end of the first period.
The Spartans came out eager to come back and attempt to put the game out of reach for the Fusion in the second period with senior Captain Addy Benson scoring the second goal for the Spartans with assists from freshman forward Gianna Geissler and junior forward Paislee Lystig.
Minutes later, the Spartans added to their lead with a goal from Junior forward Aaliyah Haroldson with another point on the score sheet for Sislo. The Spartans scored three times in a row with another goal from Gianna Geissler and an assist from junior defenseman Ellie Olson to put the Spartans up early in the second period. The Fusion would not stand down and would answer back with three goals of their own.
The Spartans came out in the third period fighting for a chance to go to the championship game on Saturday doing everything they could with some close calls and the one player advantage in the mid third period. The Spartans could not pull it off as the Fusion scored an empty net goal towards the end of the game to put the Spartans down by three, from another two Fusion goals in the third as the Spartans would end up losing a hard fought game to round out the season.
(Mike Fiegle)
Earlier in the week, Benson was awarded Wisconsin’s Ms. Hockey and Ms. Independent with many conference and state awards.
The Spartan fans were energetic with the pep band directed by band teacher Dan Eaton cheering them on and keeping the energy high. Northwestern senior Lauren Wiita joined in the Spartan pride by leading cheers with the band.
