Nick Epperson scored a goal late in the third period to give the University School boys’ hockey team a 2-1 victory over Kenosha in a Classic Eight Conference game played Tuesday at the Pleasant Prairie IcePlex in Pleasant Prairie.

The Wildcats took the lead in the game on a second period goal by Riley Hill, but Kenosha’s Cody Faber tied the game midway through the third period.  Epperson’s shot then won it for USM.

The action went back and forth, and the game was close throughout.   The teams got plenty of shots, Kenosha took 32 on Mac Schmidt, USM’s goaltender and USM took 30 on Kenosha’s keeper, Andrew Craig. But many of the shots were from outside as the defenses formed moats around their final stoppers and cleared away rebound chances.

USM scored the game’s first goal late in the second period. Skating into the Kenosha zone, Christian Blomquist stripped the puck away from a defender along the left boards.  He stepped in and passed the puck to Hill who was moving down the slot.  Hill fired quickly, putting a rising wrist shot past Kenosha’s goalie Andrew Craig at 15:29.

Neither team could generate much offense early in the third period, but eventually Kenosha was able to tie the score.  Skating into the USM zone, Cam Kronke was checked near the right boards.  As he fell, he slipped the puck toward the slot.  Cutting toward it, Max Maegaard got it, whirled and sent a short, side pass to Cody Faber. Faber pulled the puck to the right and lifted a backhand shot into the USM net at 10:08.

USM won it at 15:44 of the third period.  The Wildcats chipped the puck into the Kenosha zone.  A defenseman sent a clearing pass toward the center of the blue line that hit a Kenosha forward and caromed back toward the net.  Epperson snared it, spun into the slot, and whipped a shot into the net.

Wildcat forechecking prevented Kenosha from pulling Craig or from getting any last minute shots, and the Wildcats returned to Milwaukee with a hard-fought victory.

After the game, Jason Woods, USM’s head coach commented, “it was a fantastic game.  We continue to be an extremely resilient team who just finds a way.  Kenosha is extremely talented and works hard.  We had to play gritty and match them.  I credit our defense; they played as well as they have all year.  That and great goaltending carried the day.”

USM is 7-2-1 and 2-0-1 in the Classic Eight Conference. The Wildcats continue their quest for the Admirals’ Cup when they play Cedarburg in the second round of the tournament in a non-conference game at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29th at The Bradley Center.