USM 2 vs CATHOLIC MEMORIAL/PIUS CO-OP 4

     Friday, at Eble Park, University School played the Co-op team from Catholic Memorial/Pius for the second straight game, and for the second straight game the Co-op team from Catholic Memorial/Pius defeated USM.  The score was 4-2.

       CMP scored the first goal of the game.  Junior Anthony Soo Hoo sent the puck to junior Kyle Fink who skated into the USM zone.  Fink veered to the left corner to avoid a defenseman.  From there Fink passed the puck out front under two USM sticks that were not on the ice to CMP senior Tom Chapin.  Chapin tapped the puck, and it slid past USM goalkeeper senior Dan Smyczek, who was twisting to reach it at 8:20 of the first period.

     USM tied it at 3:27 of the same period.  Senior Alex Tesensky got the puck in the USM corner and sent it up the right boards to classmate Charlie Wigdale.  With geometric precision, Wigdale angled it off the boards into center ice to junior Simon Leahy who was cutting across from the left side.  Leahy swung towards the Crusading Popes' net.  CMP’s senior goalie David Chapin moved out to meet him.  Leahy swerved to skate behind the net but realizing he was behind Chapin Leahy reached out and stuffed the puck into the net like he was filling an empty envelope.

     The Crusading Popes went ahead on a power play early in the second period.  Skating down the right boards, Fink moved across the USM blue line.  As he did, he sent a pass across the zone in front of a USM defender who fell as he reached for the puck.  It went to Tom Chapin who proceeded to the USM net unimpeded.  Chapin deked Smyczek and peppered the net with his shot at 1:48.

     Chapin completed a natural hat trick at 5:26 of the second period when he gunned in a pass to the slot from Soo Hoo who had grabbed a loose puck below the USM goal line.

     CMP increased its lead to 4-1 at 6:22 of the third.  Fink freed the puck from a Wildcat player in the USM left corner and whipped it toward the crease.  Soo Hoo cut across from the far side, got the puck, twirled like a tornado, and lasered a shot over Smyczek’s shoulder just inside the near pipe.

     CMP had three overlapping penalties in the third period granting USM over two minutes of a 5 on 3 power play.  But the Crusading Popes met the challenge successfully and stymied every Wildcat effort.

    The Wildcats still had fight in them and soon scored on another power play opportunity.  In the CMP zone, USM junior Aaron Storch sent the puck across the slot to Leahy on the right mid-boards.  Leahy stepped toward the net, but a CMP checker forced him to move toward the corner.  As he did, Leahy flipped the puck toward the crease and senior Charlie James jabbed it past David Chapin for the game’s final goal at 15:45.

    In the game, Chapin made 32 saves.  Smyczek made 24 saves and his replacement, junior Alex Langer, who entered the game with 9:15 left, made1 save. 

  The Co-op team from Catholic Memorial/Pius now has a record of 9-6.  The Crusading Popes play Madison Edgewood at the Madison Ice Arena at 8:00 on Wednesday, January 20.  USM record stands at 3-7-2.  The Wildcats have little time to lament their fate as they play host to Janesville at 4:00 on Saturday, January 16.