Middleton employed its usual brand of shut-down defense Saturday morning as they upset #2 Fond du Lac 4-2 in a Showdown in Titletown Showcase event. The contest was marred by 37 minutes of penalties, including a CFB called on Fondy's Ty Rebedew late in the game.

The first period was scoreless, but not without action. Middleton hit two pipes in the period and Rebedew got stoned by goalie Max McConnell on a breakaway late in the period. Shots were 8-6 in favor of Middleton.

The second period featured three goals, six penalties, and two more pipes.

Fondy scored first on a goal by Alex Graf. His shot from the top of the left circle made its way through traffic and past McConnell at 1:39. Ian Tess-Wanat got an assist.

Just after a Middleton power play expired, Nico Campbell scored from the slot to tie the game with a shot that nicked off the left post before ending up behind FDL goalie William Shober at 7:46. Daylon Reifsteck and Davis Bunz got helpers on the play.

After penalties on both teams cleared the ice for 4-on-4 action, Middleton took advantage with just over a minute left when Brendan Sheehan knocked in a loose puck with help from Danny Klagos to make it 2-1 Middleton with 1:19 left in the stanza. Fondy did the outshooting this period, by a margin of 9-4.

Middleton ended up with two players in the box nearly four minutes in, and Fondy took advantage of the 5-on-3. Tess-Wanat scored from the low left side on an assist from Rex Whealon to tie the score at two at the 3:54 mark.

Now trying to kill off a 5-on-4, Middleton got a bit of luck in the Fondy d-zone when Clayton Brown grabbed a turnover in the slot and fired it past the outstretched glove of Shober to make it 3-2 for Middleton at the 4:47 mark.

Jake Bunz added the final score of the game for Middleton while on a power play four minutes later with his shot for the high slot area. Brown and Klagos earned assists on the play at 8:25.

The rest of the game featured 13 minutes of penalties, but neither team was able to find the back of the net. Shots were 7-4 in favor of Fondy.

McConnell stopped 20 shots in the winning effort, while Shober tallied 12 saves for FDL.