By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MERRILL — Merrill scored three goals in the first period and held off Marshfield 5-3 in a Wisconsin Valley Conference boys hockey game Saturday at the Smith Center.

Marshfield falls to 4-8 overall and 0-4 in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. Merrill is now 2-4 and 1-1 in the Valley.

Zach Leggon scored for Marshfield to tie the game 1-1 in the first period before Merrill scored three-straight goals to take a commanding lead.

Collin Barth and Jerod Rachu scored goals for the Tigers, but it was not enough.

Chris Sanford and Scotty Berg combined for 17 saves in goal for Marshfield.

The Tigers host D.C. Everest at 7 p.m. Thursday.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Bluejays 5, Tigers 3

Marshfield 1 1 1 – 3

Merrill 3 2 0 – 5

First period: 1. MER, Ivan DeBroux (Dylan Heller), 6:13; 2. MAR, Zach Leggon (Ben Bremer), 7:21; 3. MER, Brian Root (Heller), 8:18; 4. MER, Austin Burgener, 17:03.

Second period: 5. MER, Burgener, 6:29; 6. MAR, Collin Barth (Jacob Draves, Leggon), 12:56; 7. MER, Heller, 14:33.

Third period: 8. MAR, Jarod Rachu, 15:49.

Saves: MAR, Chris Sanford 12, Scotty Berg 5; MER, Bryce Brocking 21.

Records: Marshfield 4-8, 0-4 Wisconsin Valley Conference; Merrill 2-4, 1-1 WVC.