Lightning post third straight shutout

Coming into the season, the Lakeshore Lightning girls’ hockey team knew it had talent and depth on defense and in goal, and that’s exactly what has shined on the ice the last couple of weeks as the team racked up three consecutive shutouts.

That moved the Lightning to a state-high eight wins against two losses.

A 2-0 nonconference win over the Badger/Baraboo Co-op started the streak on Dec. 13. Wins over conference rivals Arrowhead and Fond du Lac followed.

On Dec. 17 in Hartland, Arrowhead outshot the Lightning early but couldn’t finish. They were held to 11 shots over the final two periods and none in the game’s final four minutes. Goaltender Elizabeth Bowers stopped everything.

The Lightning fired 42 shots at Eastern Shores’ all-conference goalie Kennedy Bostrom and finally broke through in the third period on a power play. Sophomore defenseman Kate Dykema scored eight minutes into the 3rd period, and junior Rachel Donovan added a second goal with two minutes left to play. The Lightning won, 2-0.

“Our offense hasn’t gotten on track yet, but our defense is elite and allows us the ability to win low scoring games,” coach Dan Wade said.

Against Fond du Lac in Sheboygan last Saturday, the Lightning maintained their stiff defense but faced an all-conference keeper in Kennedy Kohlman.

“It was a real test facing two all-conference goalies this week, but I wouldn’t trade our defense and all-conference/Team Wisconsin goalie for any of them,” Wade said.  

Regulation ended in a scoreless tie, and the first overtime didn’t net a goal either. In a 3-on-3 double overtime format, the Warbirds turned the puck over, and defenseman Chloe Katsma caught Fond du Lac in a line change and found Kennedi Bystol for a breakaway. 

Bystol, one of the state’s scoring leaders, netted the game-winner. She has seven goals and four assists on the season.

The Lightning play the Metro Lynx in on Saturday, Dec. 27, St. Croix Valley on Sunday, Dec. 28, and again face the Warbirds on Monday, Dec. 29, in the Culver’s Cup holiday tournament.