University School’s winning streak came to a screeching halt Tuesday as Marquette whitewashed the Wildcats 5-0 at Eble Park in Brookfield.

It was USM’s third loss to Marquette this season. “Thank goodness we don’t play them again,” muttered USM head coach Doug Coleman. He and the rest of the USM coaching staff emphasized that the loss was just a bump in the road and should not prevent the Wildcats from reaching their ultimate goals this season.

The game was still in contention after the first period as neither team scored in the opening frame. But the shot totals foretold events to come. The Hilltoppers took 10 shots on USM’s senior goaltender Ben Myers, while the Wildcats could generate only 2 on the Marquette goalie, sophomore Mike Roznik.

Marquette scored early in the second period. Freshman defenseman Patrick Llaurado sent the puck along the left boards in the USM end. A USM defenseman blindly chipped the puck back up the boards, and junior Kevin Hannigan collected it, skated toward the corner and passed the puck into the near circle to junior Joe Llaurado. Llaurado one-time a shot past Myers at 3:59.

USM’s play picked up as the period progressed, and the Wildcats had several chances to tie the game, but they were unable to get quick enough shots to fool Roznik.

As the period wound down, Marquette scored a goal on a power play. Patrick Llaurado passed the puck along the USM blue line to junior Aaron Miller. Miller fired a shot at Myers’ feet. As both USM defensemen turned to find the puck, senior Joe Washcovick raced in behind them unimpeded and bashed the puck under Myers to make it 2-0 with just 1:10 left in the period.

The Hilltoppers were sailing, and they effectively harpooned USM’s spirit by scoring another goal just 0:34 into the third period. Hannigan sent the puck to Washcovick on the right side of the USM zone. Washcovick immediately shot it, and Joe LLaurado rushed in and bopped the rebound past Myers.

Marquette scored its fourth goal at 7:17. Junior Connor Diffley moved the puck to sophomore James Lueken on the right point. Lueken immediately crossed it to Hannigan who one-timed a shot from the left circle into the net.

USM changed goalies, replacing Myers with freshman Brian Botcher. Marquette finished its scoring by putting one past him at 11:34. Lueken sent a long bomb pass out of the Marquette zone to sophomore Ben Lowe who had slipped behind the USM defensemen who seemed mesmerized by the puck. Lowe wheeled in on a breakaway, faked Botcher, and slid the puck into the net.

In the game Myers stopped 20 shots and Botcher stopped 5. Roznik had an easy time of it facing only 14 shots by USM.

Marquette is now 15-1. USM’s record slipped to 9-6-2. The Wildcats hope to redeem themselves when they travel to Eagle River to play Hayward in the first round of the Pines Classic on Friday at 5:00 p.m.