The heavyweight match-up between two Top 5 teams did not disappoint Friday night as #2 Wausau West and #3 Marquette traded punches for 51 minutes before the Hilltoppers were awarded the decision.  Senior forward Joe Llaurado scored the lone goal of the game in the 2nd period and Marquette withstood a furious Warrior rally in the last minute of the 3rd to move to 3-0 on the season.  The loss left West at 2-2.
 
The contest was a slugfest from the opening bell as both teams came out fast and aggressive.  Marquette went on the power play at the 1:30 mark of the first but could not convert against a stubborn Wausau defense.  Warrior sophomore goalie Sam Wiegert made several good saves in the period and the score was tied 0-0 after 17:00, with Marquette holding an 8-4 edge in shots.  

The second period started just like the first and both teams had chances to score early but were denied by strong goaltending.  West sophomore forward Logan Clemment was whistled for tripping at 11:13 and Marquette had 3 or 4 good opportunities but were stifled each time by Wiegert and the Warrior penalty killing squad.  With 3:36 left in the second and Wausau back at full strength, Hilltopper senior defenseman Connor Diffley took a pass from sophomore Patrick Llaurado and fired a wrister at the net.  The puck was stopped initially, but the rebound found its way to the stick of Patrick's brother, Joe, who slid it past the sprawling goalie for a 1-0 Hilltopper lead.  Marquette had another excellent chance to add to its lead 2 minutes later when Diffley found a deflected puck stalled on the goal line, but the net was knocked off of its pegs and the opportunity was gone.  The period ended 1-0 with Marquette outshooting the Warriors 7-4.  

Early in the third period, West senior forward and captain Tom Kilgore had a point blank shot, but Hilltopper junior goaltender Mike Roznick had the right angle and smothered the puck.  The final portion of the game saw some intense action as Bryan Carroll, Patrick Brandt, and Joe Llaurado were whistled for fouls, and Marquette found itself a man down for 6 of the last 10 minutes.  The Hilltopper defense stiffened, led by senior captain Aaron Miller, and Roznick showed why he was an All-State selection last season, stopping several hard Warrior shots, including a low liner by Kilgore that almost found its mark.  Wiegert was pulled with 1:05 remaining and West demonstrated some of the never-say-die attitude that took them to the state championship last season, dominating the final minute of play but unable to find the back of the net.  Roznick ended the game with 17 saves for Marquette while Wiegert registered 21 for Wausau West.  It was a close, hard fought contest between two strong hockey teams that may very well meet again in Madison.  
 
Marquette hosts DC Everest tomorrow afternoon while West completes it SE Wisconsin tour at The University School.