The University School boys’ hockey team defeated St. Mary’s Springs 5-2 in a non-conference game played Saturday evening at USM.

The Wildcats took the lead on three first period goals.  The Ledgers closed the scoring gap with two power play goals in the second period.  The Wildcats eased the pressure with two unanswered third period goals that allowed them to secure another victory.  Riley Hill led USM with two goals.  Billy Miller, Brandon McGill and Nick Epperson scored one goal apiece.  Dawson Saraver and Johnny Fischer scored St. Mary’s Springs’ two goals.

“It’s always nice to get a win,” said Jason Woods, USM’s head coach, after the game.  “5-2-1 is a nice start, but I know we have so much more to offer.  It all starts with discipline; you just can't reach your goals without it.  We lacked that throughout the night.  Fortunately, we were able to overcome ourselves and get a win.  We need to look in the mirror and see what we are capable of if we don't hold ourselves back.  We need to find the ‘want’ to be great.”

The Wildcats opened the night’s scoring early.  Forechecking in the slot, Hill picked off an attempted clearing pass.  He was alone in front of the ledgers’ goalie, Colin Ahern and he quickly gunned a shot over his glove for the unassisted goal at 2:29.

USM went farther ahead less than two minutes later.  While on a power play, Tommy Ferrara got the puck along the sideboards and passed it to Jerzey Judge at the point. Judge walked the puck to the center then rifled a shot toward the Ledgers’ net.  Billy Miller was stationed in front and he tipped the puck past Ahern at 4:01.

The Wildcats scored their third goal at 16:25 of the first period on another power play opportunity.  Epperson got the puck near the Springs’ blue line and fired it in deep.  The puck took a crazy bounce off the boards and caromed to McGill in the right circle.  He surprised Ahern with a quick shot up where your mother hides the Christmas presents.

The Wildcats seemed to have a solid lead, but they squandered it in the second period with penalties that allowed the Ledgers to score twice on two power plays.

The first of the Springs’ goals was score at 8:02 while the Ledgers were skating with two extra players.  On the play, Saraver got the puck in center ice, cut toward the right boards and zoomed across the USM blue line.  As he neared the hash marks, he fired a low crossing shot past Mac Schmidt, USM’s goaltender, and inside the far post.

The Ledgers made the score 3-2 on another power play goal at 16:01.  The Ledgers were in the USM zone and moving the puck around.  From the right corner, Kaine Mertens passed it to the near point to Zachary Wilson.  Wilson unleashed a low shot that Fischer tipped in.

The late second period goal made the situation seem perilous for the home team, but the Wildcats soon dispelled any notions of despair.   They got pucks into the Ledgers’ zone and fired them at Ahern.  Eventually two of their nine shots in the period made it past the goalie.

USM went ahead 4-2 with 6:55 left in the period.  McGill had the puck in the Springs’ end and fired a shot.  The puck rebounded to Epperson who one timed it back and into the net.

The Wildcats added another goal less than two minutes later.  On a breakout play, Joey Wallscog took a pass from Carson Mogush and forwarded it to Hill who was flying out of the zone.  Hill raced off on a breakaway.  As he neared Ahern he blasted a shot into the net at 12:18.

USM is 5-2-1 and 1-0-1 in the Classic Eight Conference.  The Wildcats start play in the Admirals Cup Tournament when they face off against Germantown in a non-conference game on Monday, December 21st at The Mullett Center at Arrowhead High School in Hartland.