By Jacob Heid

Sports Writer

STEVENS POINT – There are only a few nights during the season when high school players get recognized. 

The Pacelli co-op hockey team celebrated senior night on Jan. 24 for the seven players that will take off the Pacelli uniform forever after the season. 

The Cardinals came out with their second shutout win of the season, beating the Wausau East/Merrill co-op 3-0.

A scoreless first period had the two sides pretty even in the shot column, favoring the Cardinals 16-13 after 17 minutes.

Pacelli needed to skate short-handed on three separate occasions, including a five-minute boarding major by senior Logan Mendyke. 

The home team killed off all three, keeping the scoreboard clean.

More scoring opportunities popped up in the second period, with Pacelli capitalizing twice on a 19-shot period. 

The United opened the period with a man advantage, but that didn’t stop Pacelli from striking first.

Pacelli Senior Jacob Hasler capped off his special night with a goal at 1:49 of the second. 

The Cardinals lit the lamp again late in the frame. A goal from Assumption sophomore Aydan Welch gave them a 2-0 lead by the end of two. 

Pacelli dominated both ends of the ice, only allowing Wausau East-Merrill two shots on netminder Carter Herheim in the second.

A trio of seniors impacted the Cardinals’ final goal of the game. Joshua Massey ripped one by Wausau East’s Jake Furrer at 11:08 of the third, making it a 3-0 game. 

Hasler and Mason Zielinski were helpers on the goal. 

Pacelli put 53 shots on the net in the win, while Herheim denied all 26 shots he faced.

The Gazette has reached out for comment on the win. This story will be updated later with quotes if they are accessible.