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TRAVERSE CITY – After enjoying a stellar regular season, a long playoff run this season wasn’t in the cards for the Alpena High School varsity hockey team.

The Wildcats lost 3-2 in heartbreaking fashion in overtime to the Traverse City Central Trojans in a regional semi-final matchup on Friday in Traverse City.

Expectations were high for this season’s squad, as it came off a final-four appearance last year and the sudden loss was shocking to many.

It didn’t take long for Traverse City to light the lamp, as it scored only minutes into the first period. The Trojans’s goal was scored by Zander Folgmann, to give Central a 1-0 lead.

Alpena responded in the second period when senior Clark Weir got Alpena on the board with a goal that knotweed the game at 1-1. Ethan Walker and Trevor Worth each got credit for an assist.

After some controversy in the closing minutes of the second period over a goal that was waved off, Alpena took the lead as time expired in the second period. Gavin Winterstein capitalized on a shot attempt from Walker by putting the rebound in the net past the Trojans’ goalie.

The Wildcats held a 2-1 lead heading into the final period of action and the game still hanging in the balance.

Traverse City tied the game in the third period when Folgmann struck again. Both teams had opportunities to score prior to the end of regulation but neither could capitalize, sending the game to overtime.

With less than four minutes to play in the bonus period, the Wildcats failed to clear the puck, out of its own zone and Traverse City took advantage of the unforced error when Drew Davison found the back of the net to end the game.

Despite leading the Trojans in shots-on-goal, 45 to 23, Alpena’s offense couldn’t sound the horn enough to advance in the playoffs and meet the teams goals for the year.

The Wildcats end the season with a record of 21-7, and a Big North Conference championship.

Central’s record improves to 16-13 and it will now advance to square off against Midland Dow on Wednesday in Traverse City.