Wildcats Whip Warhawks in Hockey

Victory is sweet.  Victory over a long-time archrival is decidedly sweeter.  Although University School's boys ice hockey team did not play its best, it was still was able to defeat Arrowhead 6-1 in a game at Arrowhead Tuesday evening.

“We’re young and sill need to improve,” said USM’s head coach Cal Roadhouse.  “But it’s better to win than not to win anytime.”

The Wildcats pleased their coaches by taking the lead early in the first quarter.  In the Warhawks' zone, USM junior Ben Walker sent a pass to junior Joey Judge at the point.  Judge fired a low shot at the net.  Junior Steven Swanson tipped the puck past Arrowhead's junior goalie Tim Routes at 4:23.

Just over two minutes later the Wildcats tallied what would prove to be the game winning goal.  Judge got the puck in the USM zone and sent a breakout pass to senior Corey Roadhouse.  Roadhouse skated along the right boards through center ice and into the Warhawks' zone. Moving deep into the zone, Roadhouse crossed the puck to senior Ashton Wackym who was speeding toward the net like a drag racer at full throttle.  Wackym received Roadhouse's pass and one-timed it in at 6:51.

Although the Wildcats kept the pressure on during the first period and rang two more shots off the pipes, they were unable to score again in the period.

They did score a goal early in the second period.  Senior Kenny Servis took a breakout pass and skated into center ice.  He sent a cross ice pass onto Roadhouse's stick.  Once again Roadhouse skated down the right side, and once again he crossed a pass to the on-rushing Wackym.  Wackym one-timed it past Routes once again to make the score 3-0 at 3:20.

Despite the deficit, the Warhawks took control of the play and outshot USM 14-3 in the period.  USM's sophomore goaltender Bryan Botcher turned aside all but one of those shots. 

The Warhawks did score once at 6:13 of the second period.  In the USM zone, Arrowhead junior Brett Stapelfeldt passed the puck to freshman defenseman Tristan Rostagno at the point.  Rostagno fired a shot that hit Botcher, fell to the ice, and dribbled across the goal line.

Late in the period USM scored its fourth goal on a power play.  As the Wildcats patiently worked the puck around the Warhawks' zone, Roadhouse gained control of it in the left corner and passed it to Wackym in the near circle.  Wackym lined a pass to sophomore Vadim Sukhanov at the far end of the blue line.  Sukhanov took a shot and Roadhouse, who had stealthily moved in front, tipped it past Routes at 16:36.

The Wildcats played better hockey in the third period and added two goals in the final frame.  The first came at 9:51.  Judge snagged a loose puck in the USM end, skated it into the Arrowhead zone and moved behind the Warhawks' net.  He flipped the puck in front to two fellow Wildcats who had converged on the crease.  Sophomore Duncan Brown hit it to Swanson who immediately whacked it in.

USM's final goal came in the game's final minute on a power play.  Swanson got the puck along the boards in the Arrowhead end and passed it to Sukhanov at the point.  Sukhanov sent it along the blue line to senior Nathan Burke who gunned it in at 16:38.

In the game Routes made 17 saves and Botcher made 21 saves.

Arrowhead is now 2-3.  In their next game Saturday the Warhawks face Marquette.  With the victory, USM improved its record to 3-4.  The Wildcats travel to The Ponds in Elmbrook on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. game against the Brookfield co-op team.