By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
MADISON - The Stevens Point Area Senior High hockey team has experienced the feeling before, but that didn't make it any easier.
For the second straight year, SPASH's season ended in heartbreaking fashion, again on an overtime goal. This time it was in the WIAA state semifinal, as Madison Memorial knocked off the Panthers 2-1 last Friday. Last season, Beloit scored in overtime for a 5-4 win over SPASH in the state championship game. Memorial also got the better of the Panthers in overtime of the 1998 state title game.
The Panthers actually had their way in the third period and overtime, peppering Memorial goalie Matt Femal with shot after shot. But with at the 4:53 mark of overtime, Rob Plesha squirted the puck past SPASH goalie Shaun Kruzitski for the victory.
"I think we dominated the third period and overtime," SPASH coach Jack Stoskopf said. "We've done that before. Sometimes the puck bounces wrong, and you don't know why it happens but it does. It wasn't a pretty goal, but they scrambled, worked hard and were opportunistic.
"My kids left their hearts out on the rink, but sometimes it doesn't go the way you want. That is reality," he added.
SPASH didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard, as Jake Swenson put a rebound past Femal just 56 seconds into the game. Joe Pavelski and Eric Anderson were credited with assists.
The Panthers had another chance for a goal about eight minutes later, but the puck hit the right pipe of the goal.
The Spartans evened the score at 1-1 when Chris Green scored 3:29 into the period.
For the game, Femal saved 22 shots while Kruzitski made 18 saves.
Stoskopf, who resigned effective the final game of the year, leaves with several state tournament disappointments but a stellar regular season mark. Eight seniors also played their final games.
"Some people will think we can't win a game at state. Overall we're looked upon as one of the elite teams in the state," Stoskopf said.
"I'm disappointed that we didn't win but we've done some very good things over the years."