The University School boys’ hockey team lost to Cedarburg 2-0 in a non-conference game Tuesday at USM.

The competition was close throughout.  The crowd that filled the stands witnessed a clean, fast-paced game between two talented teams. The play ranged quickly up and down the ice all night.  Both teams moved the puck speedily and fired shots continuously. The Bulldogs out shot the Wildcats 29-25 in the contest as the Cedarburg defense and goalie Matt McCoy stopped the Wildcat attack cold and turned the puck over to the forwards who moved with determination into the USM end.

The result of the game had important consequences for seeding in Sectional 8 of the state tournament playoffs.  Each team now has only one loss against teams in the Sectional, with Cedarburg holding the edge in face-to-face competition.

USM coach Tim Quinn said, “Tonight a high-powered offense met a rock solid defense, and in those battles, I’d take the defense any day. Unfortunately, the defense was Cedarburg’s, but the good news is we may see them again in the playoffs, and I think with a few adjustments, we will be more prepared next time.”

The Bulldogs scored their first goal at 14:03.  Skating out of the Bulldogs’ end, Kyle Samara was joined in a 2-on-2 rush by Evan Gabel.  As Samara skated into the USM end, the puck was tipped away by a defenseman, but Gabel was crossing behind.  Gabel picked up the puck, swung into the right circle, and fired a high shot inside the far post, past Mac Schmidt, USM’s goaltender.

No goals were scored in the second period.  Schmidt and McCoy made sure of that.

The Bulldogs tallied an insurance goal early in the third period. On the play, Jan Hora snared the puck in USM’s right corner and wheeled behind the USM net.  Heading into the left corner, he passed the puck up the near mid-boards to Nick Russo.  Russo fired the puck past a diving defender.  As the puck moved toward the net, Thomas Bibby put his stick on it, tipping it past Schmidt just inside the near-side post at 5:04.

The Wildcats pulled Schmidt late in the game and pressured McCoy and his comrades.  But it was to no avail for USM.

USM is 13-6-1 and 4-2 in the Classic Eight Conference. The Wildcats play Marquette on Saturday, January 31st at Eble Park Ice Arena in Brookfield beginning at 7:00 p.m.