USM 4 vs. Arrowhead 2

     Tuesday, in the final game of the RBC Wealth Management Shootout held at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, University School wrested the championship trophy from the grasp of the tournament’s defending champion, Arrowhead, by a 4-2 margin.

     The Wildcats came to play and quickly made the point clear.  Just as a USM power play was finishing, USM senior Alex Tesensky received a pass from classmate Charlie James in center ice.  Tesensky roared off down the left side.  As he entered the high slot, he swerved toward the center in front of an Arrowhead defenseman and released a quick snap shot. Blinded by his defenseman’s back, Arrowhead’s junior goalie Jake Michael didn’t see Tesensky’s shot, and the puck sailed into the net just 2:12 into the game.

     Tesensky made it 2-0 a few minutes later.  He gathered in a loose puck in center ice and once again raced down the left boards.  As he moved into the Arrowhead circle he dipped his shoulder and fulcrumed himself behind the Warhawk defender.  He crossed into the low slot and backhanded a shot past Michael at 4:30 of the first period. 

     Meanwhile, the USM defense was sound and kept Arrowhead from taking many shots in the first period.  USM senior goalkeeper Dan Smyczek convincingly stopped all five that the Warhawks were able to put on net.

     USM increased its lead midway through the game.  Taking a face off in the Arrowhead zone, Tesensky won the draw and pushed the puck forward.  His line mate, junior Aaron Storch, stepped in and one-timed a shot past the startled Michael at 9:48 of the second period.

      Arrowhead was stunned, but the Warhawks pulled slightly closer on a power play late in the second period.  As the Warhawks moved the puck around the USM zone, it went out to senior Donavan Blakney at the right point.  Blakney fired a low buzzer that hit Smyczek’s leg pad and rebounded into the right circle.  Arrowhead junior Colton Sweitzer rushed to it and blasted a shot back into the net at 15:01.

     A local hockey sage has said that “a two goal lead is the toughest lead in hockey,” but USM decided to make it tough on Arrowhead in the third period.  Early in the period, the Wildcats took advantage of an Arrowhead mistake to make the score 4-1.  USM junior Corey Roadhouse raced into the Arrowhead zone and sent the puck toward Michael.  The goalkeeper got it on his stick and stepped forward to pass it out to a teammate.  Instead he passed it straight onto the stick of USM sophomore Ashton Wackym, and Wackym backhanded it back past Michael and into the net at 4:56.

    In the final few minutes of the game Arrowhead added another power play goal. From the USM right corner junior Tony Koehler passed the puck up to the mid-boards to Blakney who headed toward the net.  Blakney easily went around three reaching USM sticks and moved into the crease.  He jammed the puck between Smyczek’s legs to make the score 4-2 at 11:31.

     Arrowhead put some pressure on the Wildcats as the clock ticked down; but the Wildcats were not about to fold.  At the buzzer victory was theirs.

    In the game Michael saved 23of USM’s 27 shots on goal.  Smyczek stopped 20 of 22.

 Arrowhead is now 9-4.  The Warhawks’ next game is at Eble Park against Waukesha at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday January 5, 2010. 

    Having defeated an old rival and two of the state’s top ten teams in the three days of the tournament, USM improved its record to 2-4-2.  The Wildcats hope to continue improving their record when they face off at home against Monona Grove at 7:00 on Tuesday, January 5.