DC Everest 1 vs USM 1

        Before a packed house full of Friday night excitement at University School, University School and D.C. Everest High School of Wausau gave the fans plenty of end to end action, displays of excellent goaltending and an overtime thriller. But neither team could claim a victory as the game concluded with the scored tied, 1-1

      The predominance of the play was in the Evergreen’s end, but D.C. Everest’s senior goalie Mark Lambrecht stood like the Hoover Dam against the deluge, turning aside 41 of USM’s 42 shots.  At the other end, the Wildcats’ senior goalkeeper Dan Smyczek faced fewer shots, a total of 19. But Smyczek stopped two breakaways, including one with 3:28 in the overtime period, and gloved several point blank shots to ease pressure when Everest was threatening. 

     After out-shooting D.C. Everest 11-2 in a scoreless first period, USM finally got the game’s first goal at 11:43 of the second period.  Junior defenseman Zach Hafeman received a pass from junior Aaron Storch in center ice and sent a second pass across the ice to classmate Simon Leahy.  Leahy sped toward the net down the left side, and Hafeman kept coming, rushing to the right post. Leahy crossed it to him, and Hafeman one-touched it in.

     D. C. Everest scored its lone goal just after completing a power play.  The Evergreens still had control of the puck in the USM zone. Senior defenseman Mike Kucil had it at the point and pulled toward the center of the line away from a USM checker. Kucil cooly passed it into the slot to sophomore Alex Yde. Yde whipped it to the left mid-boards to senior Ethan Mytinger who lined a one-time shot into the upper left corner past Smyczek at 13:07.

   In the overtime USM had the advantage of a late power play, and the Wildcats outshot Everest 6 to 2, but despite providing thrills, the added eight minutes provide neither team a win.

   As a result of the tie, D.C. Everest is now 2-0-1.  The Evergreens continue their trip to Milwaukee with a game at 4:15 Saturday at Eble Park against the Catholic Memorial/Pius IX Co-op team.  USM has a record of 0-3-1.  The Wildcats play host to #1 ranked Wausau West at 4:00 Saturday.