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Cedarburg Outlasts USM to Earn Second Trip To State

By Tom Geilfuss, USM Assistant Coach, 03/01/15, 2:00PM CST

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Matt McCoy Stops 43 in Cedarburg Win

When the top two boys hockey teams meet in a sectional final, you know the game will good. So it was at Wilson Park in Milwaukee Saturday afternoon when Cedarburg, seeded first in Sectional 8, faced-off with the sectional’s second seed, University School. The two teams battled for two overtimes until Cedarburg finally pulled out a 2-1 victory.

The goals in the game were like bookends enclosing a thrilling goaltending battle.  Evan Gabel scored for Cedarburg in the first minute.  Nick Epperson tied the game in the final three minutes of regulation time, then Gabel won it for Cedarburg with 5:58 left in the second overtime.  During the rest of the game the two goalies took over; USM’s Mac Schmidt made 36 saves for Wildcats, and Cedarburg’s Matt McCoy made 43 saves.  Both handled some tough chances with agile poise and equanimity.

After the game, USM coach Tim Quinn said, “Yesterday’s game was a heart-breaker because I felt it was clear that we were the better team.  After Cedarburg's goal in the opening shift, we fought all game long to tie it up, and then it looked like we had them, but we just didn’t get the bounce we needed. In overtime, all it takes is one shot; they got one, and they buried it. Nevertheless, I am extremely proud of how out boys played; they gave everything they had, and that’s all I can ask of them.  My hat also goes off to Cedarburg who is one of the best defensive teams I’ve seen at the high school level.  They have a real shot at winning the whole thing, and I wish them luck.”

At the start of the first period, the Bulldogs got the puck deep into the USM zone and went after it fiercely.  Drew Decker collected it in the left corner and quickly passed it to Kyle Samera behind the net.  Samera immediately passed it out to Gabel who was skating down the slot.  Gabel one-timed a shot past Schmidt just 14 seconds into the game.

The rest of the first period and all of the second period were scoreless.  The Wildcats out shot the Bulldogs 9-5 in the first period and 17-14 in the second, but McCoy handled the USM shots, and the Cedarburg defensemen cleared the puck efficiently.

As the game moved on, each play, each shot took on added significance, added tension, and brought added oohs and aahs from the crowd.  With just 2:36 left in the third period, the Wildcats added to the tension by tying the game.

The Wildcats forechecked aggressively, knowing they needed the puck and a goal to lengthen their season.  Hayden Brown knocked the puck free from a Cedarburg player along the right boards.  It skittered to Epperson in the near circle.  Epperson stepped to slot, whirled, and fired a low shot off the left pipe and into the net to send the game into overtime.

The Wildcats nearly won the game in the first overtime when an off-angle shot hit the pipe and caromed behind McCoy and out the far side of the crease.  They put five other shots on McCoy during that eight minutes, but none went in.  The Bulldogs tested Schmidt with flurry in front of him in the opening minute of the frame, but their lone shot in the period was turned aside.

The game went on, in the second overtime. After 11 more minutes and 2 more seconds, Cedarburg finally ended the game. On the play, Gabel collected the puck from the boards near the Bulldog’s blue line and took off down the left side.  Skating through center ice, Gabel’s stickhandling mesmerized the USM defenseman. Gabel quickly pulled the puck around him near the USM blue line.  As he moved into the circle, Gabel fired a shot.  It flew past Schmidt. It hit the netting inside the far post.  It sent USM home. It sent the Bulldogs to Madison.

The loss ended USM’s season.  The Wildcats finished with a 15-10-2 record.

WiPH Game Summaries

The photo in the article slide show came from the Twitter feed of CHS Principal, Jeff Nelson.