USM 2 (SO) vs. Marquette 1

      Sunday, in another classic confrontation in the continuing rivalry between two of Milwaukee’s oldest hockey programs, University School played Marquette 1-1 overtime tie and then beat the Hilltoppers in a 2-1 shootout during the open round of the RBC Wealth Management Shootout Tournament in downtown Milwaukee.

     The game was close as play rocked back and forth throughout the game.  The save totals were identical: thirty each for Marquette’s freshman goalie Michael Roznik, and USM’s senior netminder Dan Smyczek.

     Marquette tallied the first goal on a first period power play.  Catching USM in a change, the Hilltoppers moved into the USM zone.  Junior Joe Saagadin sent the puck over to sophomore Kyle Schmidt in the left circle.  Schmidt took a step in and blasted a shot through a screen and past Smyczek at 838.

     USM tied it in the second.  On a face off in the Marquette end, sophomore center iceman Ashton Wackym won the draw and pulled the puck around his face off foe.  He fired a quick shot at Roznik.  The rebound came out to the far side. Moving to the net like he was late to class, senior Augie Fritz bashed the loose puck past Roznik.  Time of the goal: 10:39.

    The third period was scoreless, as was the single eight-minute overtime.  Tournament rules dictated that each team then put forth three shooters for a shootout. If the game was still tied, then the shootout was sudden death.

     Roznik and Smyczek each stopped their first two opponents.  That left it up to USM senior Alex Tesensky and Marquette’s Schmidt.  On his attempt, Tesensky moved in, dipped his shoulder to fake a shot, and lofted a backhander over Roznik, who had fallen for the fake.  Then Schmidt had his turn.  He moved in, swept to the right, and tucked the puck just inside the post before Smyczek could move his foot over to block it.

   The next USM shooter was junior Aaron Storch.  Storch raced toward Roznik, and from five feet away, Storch roofed his shot for a goal.  That put the pressure on Marquette senior Dave Baker.  Baker decided to shoot from the slot and he fired it wide.  Sudden death for Marquette, victory for USM.

    Marquette is now 3-2-2.  The Hilltoppers play the Whitefish Bay/Nicolet/Shorewood Co-op at 12:05 p.m. on Monday at the Bradley Center in a consolation round game.   USM is officially 0-4-2.  The Wildcats take on Cedarburg, which beat WNS 6-1, at 11:00 a.m. Monday at Wilson Park.