USM 4 vs Winona 3

Friday, in a close game that weaved back and forth like a loom, University School outlasted Winona High School at the Bud King Ice Arena in Winona, Minnesota and won the game 4-3.

There was no score in the first period. USM outshot the Winhhawks 11-3, but Winona’s senior goalie Garrett Welle stood firm.

USM scored the game’s first goal at 9:06 of the second period.  Junior defenseman Zach Hafeman got the puck in the USM zone and zipped a long bomb cross ice to Simon Leahy in center ice.  On a breakaway, Leahy skated into the Winona slot and moved toward the crease.  He pulled the puck left, then right, then back left, fooling Welle.  Leahy then neatly slipped the puck inside the left post for the goal.

Winona tied it just 38 seconds later.  Senior Jay Moran put the puck on the tape of classmate Aaron Theis as Theis skated through center ice.  When Theis got to the USM blue line, he flashed a shot to the far side of the goal past USM’s senior goaltender Dan Smyczek at 9:40.

USM scored next.  From the Winona blue line, USM senior defenseman Charlie James sent a low wrist shot toward the net. Welle tried to trap the puck on the ice with his glove, but it squirted out like mustard from a squeeze bottle.  USM senior Alex Tesensky popped the loose puck into the net at 15:28.

Winona quickly tied the score before the period closed.  Moran intercepted a pass in the USM slot.  He pulled the puck around two reaching defenders and snapped a low shot past Smyczek at 16:25.

Winona took its first lead early in the third period.  Moran got the puck in his team’s zone and skated it out along the right boards on a one on one.  As he moved into the USM end, Moran notched up his speed and wheeled past the USM defenseman.  He cut into the low circle and fired a shot past Smyczek at 1:34.

USM tied it back up just over a minute later. Battling for the puck in the corner of the Winona zone, senior Ian Crimmins gained control of the puck, turned, and passed it out front to Leahy who one-timed it in at 2:49.

The game remained undecided until the closing minutes. USM applied a heavy forecheck and forced the Winhawks to try to ice the puck.  Hafeman picked off the clearing attempt at the point and blasted a shot just above the ice that found its way through a screen and past the blinded Welle with just 1:25 left on the clock for the game-winning goal.

In the game Smyczek made 17 saves and Welle made 32.

Winona’s record is now 13-3-1.  USM now has a 9-7-2 record.  The Wildcats play Onalaska in Onalaska Saturday at 2:00 p.m.