The University School boys’ hockey team continues to play winning hockey. The Wildcats defeated Cedarburg 3-0 in a non-conference game Saturday night at the Ozaukee Ice Center in Cedarburg.

Mac Schmidt, USM’s senior goaltender, made 33 saves in the shutout effort to lead the Wildcats.  Senior Levi Geisness and juniors Brandon McGill and Nick Epperson provided the goals that USM needed to win the game.

The game was a close one as the shot totals attest.  USM took 32 shots and Cedarburg took 33.  The difference was that the Wildcats scored on three of their shots at Cedarburg’s senior goalie Matt McCoy.

There was no scoring in the first period with USM taking 10 shots and Cedarburg taking 8 in the period.

The Wildcats finally found a way to beat McCoy at 12:28 of the second period.  Sophomore Will Kennedy collected a loose puck deep in the USM end and sent a breakout pass to Levi Geisness along the left boards.  Geisness skated along the boards through center ice.  As he crossed the Bulldogs’ blue line, he pulled the puck past a defenseman and cut toward the center of the zone.  From the edge of the left circle he lofted a shot past McCoy to give USM the lead.

USM went further ahead on a power play late in the second period. Seeking a goal scoring opportunity, the Wildcats worked the puck around the Bulldogs zone.  Eventually it went to senior Jerzey Judge at the center of the blue line.  Judge passed it to Logan Geisness in the lower right circle.  Geisness moved the puck to Epperson in the high slot.  Epperson whipped a wrist shot into the net at 15:00.

The third period was penalty-filled.  Nine total were assessed.  The Wildcats were able to sneak in an even strength goal at 9:55.  Skating out of the USM zone on a two-on-one rush, Epperson sent the puck to McGill who was flying down the center.  As the defenseman dove to stop him his stick tripped McGill.   McGill looked like Superman as he went flying through the air.  As he fell toward the ice, McGill launched the puck past a startled McCoy for the game’s final goal.

After the game Jason Woods, USM’s head coach, reflected, “It was an outstanding week: three big games, three wins.  I am really proud of our attention to defense.  Two goals in three games, ending with the shut out tonight is important for us.  We are now realizing the value of controlling the score and giving ourselves a great chance to succeed.  Now we need to get some rest, heal up, and get ready for another big test against Homestead on Wednesday.”

USM is 15-4-2 and 5-0-1 in the Classic Eight Conference. The Wildcats play Homestead in a Classic Eight Conference game at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 3rd at the Ozaukee Ice Center in Cedarburg.