The University School hockey team suffered its second straight defeat as it lost to Marquette 3-2 in the third place game of the Paul Meyer Memorial Tournament at USM Saturday evening.

The Wildcats did not look like losers in the game’s first period as they jumped to a 2-0 lead.  USM scored its first goal on a power play.  Junior defenseman Nathan Burke took a pass from senior Aaron Storch at the Marquette blue line, walked the puck toward the center of the line and fired a shot past Marquette’s goalie Mike Roznik just 3:46 into the game.

USM added another goal at 11:09.  Senior Simon Leahy got the puck in the left corner of the Marquette end and cycled it up the boards to freshman Ryan Mezera.   Mezera passed the puck to junior Ashton Wackym in the left circle and Wackym sent a quick shot between Roznik’s leg to make it 2-0.

The quick first period lead seemed to make the Wildcats complacent, but it stirred the Hilltoppers.  Marquette scored two goals less than a minute apart in the second period to knot the game at 2.  The Hilltoppers’ first goal came at 11:39.  The Marquette players got the puck into the USM end and forechecked relentlessly.  They got control of the puck and passed it around the zone out of the reach of the USM players’ sticks.  Aaron “A” Miller sent the puck to Cam Biel who eventually got it to Will Podewils, on the left mid-boards.  Podewils gunned a shot that eluded USM’s senior goalkeeper Alex Langer at 11:39.

After the ensuing center ice face off, Marquette once again got the puck into the USM end.  During a scramble in front of Langer, Joe Llaurado tapped the puck through a space on the goal line to tie the score 2-2 at 11:48.

Marquette scored the game winner on a power play early in the third period and then held on for the victory.  Ben Lowe took a slap shot from the point and Miller tipped it in to make it 3-2.

Marquette is now 2-1 in the young season.  USM’s record fell to 1-2.  The Wildcats will try to find something to give thanks for besides their turkey dinners when they travel to Hopkins, Minnesota to face Blake School Friday, November 26, in the opening round of the Bob Nelson Tournament at Blake.