USM 2 vs ARROWHEAD 1

University School scored two early power play goals and used tight team defense to hold on to defeat Arrowhead 2-1 at Arrowhead Tuesday night.

The Wildcats scored their first power play goal at 6:27 of the first period.  In the Arrowhead end, the puck was swatted into the right corner.  USM senior Charlie James got it and fed it up the boards to junior Simon Leahy.  Leahy passed the puck across the slot to senior Alex Tesensky.  Like a determined dentist, Tesensky drilled it through a cavity left untended by Arrowhead’s junior goalie Nick Fisher.

USM scored its next power play goal just over two minutes later at 8:32.  While killing the penalty, the Warhawks iced the puck.  USM junior Zach Hafeman went back into the USM zone to get it and passed it up the boards to Tesensky.  Like a scrambling quarterback, Tesensky side-stepped a check and flung a long bomb to Leahy, all alone in center ice.  Leahy wheeled into the Arrowhead zone.  He pulled the puck to his left as he neared the crease and swiftly slid it into the net like he was depositing a coin in a meter.

Arrowhead finalized the evening’s scoring at 12:26 of the first period.  In the Arrowhead zone, junior Colton Sweitzer swung the puck along the boards to senior Donovan Blakney.  Blakney spotted his classmate Brian Berger who had snuck behind the USM defensemen into center ice.  Blakney passed the puck to Berger, who moved into the USM zone on a breakaway.  Berger deked USM’s senior goaltender Dan Smyczek and pushed the puck into the net.

The second and third periods were scoreless, but each team had its share of opportunities to maintain the excitement and tension of a well-played hockey game between two fine teams.

In the game Smyczek made 25 saves and Fisher made 20 saves.

Arrowhead is now 12-9.  The Warhawks go to Eble Park Friday night for a game against the Catholic Memorial/Pius Co-op.  USM improved its record to 10-7-3.  The Wildcats face the Brookfield Co-op on Friday, February 5th at the Ponds in Elmbrook at 6:00 p.m.