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USM defeats Edgewood 3-1 in battle of top teams

By Thomas Geilfuss, 02/05/12, 1:14AM CST

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Botcher stops 24 in win over long-time rival

In a battle between two of Wisconsin's top teams, the University School boys hockey team defeated Madison Edgewood 3-1 Saturday at the Madison Ice Arena.

As usual in the long series of games between these two rivals, the pace was fast and the action continuous. The first two periods were scoreless. In those thirty-four minutes, the Crusaders took 17 shots on USM's sophomore goaltender Bryan Botcher, and the Wildcats took 12 shots on Edgewood's senior goalie Patrick Annen, but both goalies stopped them all.

The final period was a different story. It began with both teams skating four against four, and each team scored a goal during that situation.

USM scored first. Junior Milton Padway passed the puck to senior Ashton Wackym in center ice. Wackym and his senior linemate Corey Roadhouse headed into the Edgewood zone on a two on two. Wackym cut to the left and fired a backhand shot toward the net. It went behind the goal and both Wackym and Roadhouse went behind to battle for it. Roadhouse won the battle, got the puck and stepped out across the goal line. He then wired a low off-angle shot under Annen at 1:56.

Edgewood tied the score less than a minute later. Senior Zach Zanoya passed the puck to senior Taylor Brown speeding out of the Edgewood zone along the right boards. Brown out raced a USM defender, cut toward the net, swept through the crease and pushed the puck past Botcher at 3:40.

The Wildcats had seven penalties during the third period, but they scored the winner during a brief stretch when the two teams were both at full strength. Junior Ryan Revolinski won control of puck along the boards deep in the USM end. He winged it up the boards to sophomore Duncan Brown. Brown skated into center ice and lined a cross-ice pass to junior Ben Walker. Walker moved past an Edgewood checker and headed in on a breakaway. Walker deked Annen and tucked the puck inside the left post at 7:33.

The Wildcats scored their final goal while killing a penalty. The Crusaders had the puck in the USM zone, but Wackym intercepted a pass. He skated through center ice and across the Edgewood blue line. He quickly spun to the left to avoid a poke check. Continuing a tight turn, Wackym passed the puck to Roadhouse who was skating into the play down the slot. Roadhouse immediately unleashed a wrist shot that flew like a cruise missile past Annen's shoulder at 10:20.

The Wildcats killed the remainder of that penalty and all the rest assessed against them in the game to take home a victory.

In the game, Annen made a total of 18 saves, and Botcher made 24 saves.

Edgewood is now 13-9 for the season. USM is 14-9. The Wildcats face Stoughton in a 7:00 p.m. game on Tuesday at the Mandt Hockey Arena in Stoughton.

WiPH Game Summaries