The St. Croix Valley Fusion are Madison bound after defeating the Chippewa Falls-Menomonie Sabers at home in Baldwin in the semi-final round on Tuesday 7-0 and then defeating the Western Wisconsin Stars 4-1 on Saturday.

After earning a first round bye, the Fusion handily won a pair of games and punched their ticket to the state tournament in Madison for the first time since 2014.

In the Fusion’s first postseason tilt, you wouldn’t know it by looking at the final line, but a good portion of the play against the Sabers was in a one-score game. After going back and forth in the first period, Alexis Ralston put in the game’s first goal with just 3:30 remaining in the first period. She was assisted in the effort by Morgan Kivel, and it would remain 1-0 going into the intermission.

Fusion star shooter Kendall Sundby came into the second period hot and scored an unassisted goal almost immediately, and then she did it again 6:30 later, except this time it was while St. Croix Valley was playing short-handed to make it 3-0.

The scoring wasn’t over though as Jane Volgren got one on the assist from Ralston and Oaklie Holldorf, and Ralston got her second on the assist from Sundby and Kivel. This made it 5-0 going into the final intermission.

The final period only had two goals scored in it surprisingly, considering the Fusion outshot the Sabers 21-4 after playing much closer in the second period at 12-9.

The goals were scored nearly back-to-back, and they were both scored unassisted by Volgren who secured the hattrick as the Fusion advanced to the sectional finals. The final score against the Sabers was 7-0, and the final tally for shots on goal was 43-17.

The Fusion breathed a collective sigh of relief after Tuesday’s win as they had gotten eliminated in Round 2 the past two seasons after earning a first-round bye both years.

With the prospect of going to state with one more win, St. Croix Valley goalie Anna Woolley was cautiously optimistic about their chances of finally getting over the hump and making it to Madison.

“The biggest thing for us was keeping up the confidence but also not getting too comfortable. The past few years, we've gone into playoffs playing a team that we've already beaten twice then just kind of not showed up or played to our full level and lost both times, but third time’s a charm,” Woolley said. “We really just need to make sure we keep our focus, give it our 100% best effort, not get too overconfident but also know what we can do. Just finding that balance has been a big thing for us this year, and I think maintaining that is going to be the biggest thing for us.”

Woolley says their team motto of “the road to the capitol” was a big thing for them all last year after missing out in 2021.

“With the seniors that we have leaving, it's been their biggest dream to just get there. So, anything we can do to help them do that I think is really important, and that's definitely the end goal. I'd love to see that happen, for them and for us as well,” Woolley said.

In contrast to round two of the playoffs, the sectional final game was never really close as the Fusion came out hot, scoring two goals in the first 6:00, both unassisted. Eleanor Adams got one after 1:58 of play and Sundby got her first of the game at 5:21.

The Stars pulled within one after taking advantage of a mid-period power play, but Kraly Walker assisted Sundby on her second of the night just a few minutes later, and the Fusion took a 3-1 lead into the first break.

The second period was quintessential Fusion hockey. Even though they got outshot 12-6, they played strong defense and kept points off the board in what was a scoreless affair for both sides. Kendra Harmon added on a Taya Peterson assisted insurance goal in the third, as St. Croix Valley cruised past the Stars and into the state tournament.

Coach Matt Cranston says the atmosphere after winning the game against the Stars to become sectional champions at home in front of a packed house was “crazy fun.”

“The girls were super excited, it was a great experience for everyone involved. I believe the attendance was around 800,” Cranston said. “The keys for winning it all will be good goaltending, and playing defensively in all three zones, forwards and defenseman. Also, getting the puck to the net with lots of shots on goal.”

Coach Cranston says another point of emphasis is going to be trying to keep the distractions to a minimum while not letting all the hype change their game plan and focus.

The Fusion will play a staggered series in Madison as the boys’ tournament happens concurrently. They enter as the two-seed and will play in the first round on Thursday. The puck drops for that game at Bob Suter Coliseum outside of Madison at 7:30 p.m. Should they come out on top, St. Croix Valley will play for it all on Saturday at 2 p.m.