MARQUETTE 1 vs USM 3

A hat trick by junior Simon Leahy and tight-fisted team defense led University School to a 3-1 victory over Marquette Tuesday night at USM.

USM scored its first two goals on special teams.  The first came while USM was killing a penalty.  In the Wildcat zone senior Alex Tesensky got control of the puck and began skating up ice.  Leahy sped ahead and got behind the Marquette defensemen.  Tesensky forwarded the puck to him and Leahy took off on a breakaway.  As he moved down the slot in the Marquette end, Leahy’s skillful stickhandling stunned the Marquette goalie, senior Dan Weber.  Leahy pulled the puck around him and slipped it in the net at 10:50 of the first period.

The Wildcats scored their next goal on a power play in the second period.  Junior Zach Hafeman got the puck at the point and lined a low shot toward the net.  The puck bounced off of the stick of USM senior Charlie James in front and bounced out to Leahy in the low slot.  Like he was tossing heads or tails, Leahy flipped the puck over the prostrated Weber at 9:58.

Between the second and third periods, both teams knew that the game’s next goal would be significant, and USM signified its desire to win by scoring it.  While forchecking, Leahy fired the puck into the Marquette left corner to senior Ian Crimmins.  Cimmins sent it to Tesensky along the sideboards.  Leahy had swung unnoticed back into the high slot and Tesensky lined it across to him.  Leahy snapped a blazer past Weber at 3:32.

Marquette had a chance to get closer when it was awarded a penalty shot at 5:45.  Marquette senior Charlie Traudt skated in on USM’s senior goaltender Dan Smyczek, and pulled the puck to left Smyczek stayed in front of him all the way and stymied Traudt's attempt.

Eventually Marquette did make the game a bit closer.  USM was unable to clear the puck from its zone, and the puck bounced to Traudt in the slot.  He hit it toward the net just as his linemate senior David Baker was skating across the low slot.  The puck hit Baker’s stick and bounced to the left. Traudt swung away from his check and knocked the loose puck past USM’s senior goaltender Dan Smyczek at 9:40.

But the Wildcats tenacious defensive play made sure that that was the only goal Marquette could get, and USM secured the victory.

In the game Weber stopped 27 of USM’s 30 shots.  Smyczek made 17 saves for for the Wildcats.

Marquette is now 9-3-5.  The Hilltoppers play Waukesha at Nagawaukee Ice Arena in Hartland on Friday, January 29th at 5:45 p.m.  USM moved its record above .500 for the first time this season.   Now 8-7-2, the Wildcats travel to Winona, Minnesota to play Winona High School at the Minnesota Ice Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.