WAUSAU - Playoff hockey looks like it's in full swing across the Northwoods.
One of the teams that's still fighting is the Northland Pines girls team.
They beat GNC rival Northern Edge last Tuesday 5-2.
That set up another meeting between the Eagles and the Central Wisconsin Storm this afternoon.
Coaches say it should be a good matchup thanks to a deep player rotation.
"That's the way we play, and I know that's the way the Storm plays," says head coach Patrick Schmidt. "They've never changed their game. That's why it's always been such a huge rivalry for us because it's always two really good teams going head to head."
The Eagles are looking forward to the competition, but coaches say there's only one message for them going forward.
"When it comes down to it, it's a sport," says Schmidt. "That's all it is. It's a sport that teaches some unbelievable life lessons. There's not NHL scouts in the stands. For the most part, it's such a small part of the girls' life that we try to make it as enjoyable as humanly possible."
So with that let's jump right into Saturday's playoff action.
Pines on the defensive here.
Central Wisconsin's Katelynn Schilling puts up the early shot.
Jenna Paez puts down the hammer, but she couldn't do it twice.
Eagles trying to clear it, but Schilling's got it again.
She'll swoop around the goal, and she'll sneak it right past Paez for the first score of the game.
Eagles now on the attack.
Flying down to the goal.
Cali Sanborn has it on the boards.
They're in a perfect spot for a pass and shoot.
That's just what they do, but Allison Sauvola can't get the one-timer to go.
Still 1-0 at this point.
Later in the first period.
The Storm win the drop, and they get the shot off so quick I couldn't even catch up with it on camera, but they score their second goal of the day.
And they wouldn't need much more offense than that.
Central Wisconsin shuts out the Eagles 5-0.
The Storm win the sectional and will advance to state.
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