The Friday night showdown between Middleton and Verona can be put this way: Middleton made the most of their chances, while Verona--who is rated #2-- not as many as needed.

Jordan Carey's tally from a low percentage angle with just under two minutes left in the third gave Middleton a 4-3 win before a packed house in Verona.

The win put both teams on top with Sun Prairie in the Big Eight conference and Verona their first loss of the season.  Middleton has played one fewer conference game.

The scoring got started with Verona buzzing the Cards net . Middleton goalie  Max McConnell (24 saves) was able to keep the 'Cats off the board. Verona then turned over the puck in the neutral zone. Nicholas Campbell got to the left circle and beat Travis Dahlk  for a 1-0 Cards lead.

Another opportunity came middletons way in the form of a power play. Middleton got set up in the 'Cats zone. The puck came back to Jake Bunz, who got off a shot that made it thru traffic for a 2-0 lead. Verona wasnt thru for the period though. Winger Louie Ellis came down the ice with a linemate and from the midslot zinged a wrister past McConnell for a 2-1 score after one period.

The start of the second period saw Verona put on a a long surge in Middleton's zone, but once again McConnell came up big. With that barrage withstood, Middleton looked to Jake Bunz again. Bunz let another shot fly from the left point thru traffic past Dahlk for a 3-1 lead.

Things then were looking good for Middleton with a power play. But this time Verona struck.  Bunz was involved on this also. His shot hit a shin guard . The puck skipped past Bunz and Jones won the race to the puck and slipped it in the net past McConnell for a 3-2 Verona deficit after two periods.

The third period saw Verona with another big push but denied. They were able to get the game tied with 4:07 left when freshman Tarek Baker battled at the left post and got it in the net for a tie at  3. With an OT period looming, Middleton was able to avoid it with Jordan Carey's goal that snuck thru Dahlk (14 saves) for the tiebreaker. Verona was gonna make it interesting though with a couple key faceoffs in Middletons zone, but the Cards, were able to finish it off with a faceoff win to the boards cross ice for the win.

Middleton moves to 7-2 and is off until January 3rd when they play Beloit. Verona now is 8-1 and playing in a tournament at Greenheck Field House.