Badgers Earn First WCHA Win
November 16, 2002 | Men's Hockey
Wisconsin (5-5-0 overall, 1-3-0 WCHA) defeated Minnesota-Duluth (3-4-3, 3-3-2) 2-1 in overtime at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC). Senior Erik Jensen 's (Madison, Wis.) power-play goal at 4:43 in overtime gave the Badgers and head coach Mike Eaves their first WCHA win of the season.
Wisconsin and Minnesota-Duluth started Saturday's game with 40 minutes of scoreless play. The Badgers killed off a two-man advantage early on in the first period and out shot the Bulldogs 20 to 12 in the first two periods of play.
The Badgers ended the scoreless tie when Freshman Ryan MacMurchy(Regina, Sask.) blasted the puck from the right circle off of a set up by Pete Talafous(Hudson, Wis.). MacMurchy's shot bounced the puck past UMD goaltender Isaac Reichmuth and into the net for the first goal of the game at 2:01 of the third period.
Fifteen minutes later the Bulldogs answered the Badger's goal when Beau Geisler fired from the point and Junior Lessard tipped it in past Bernd Bruckler(Graz, Austria) for the game-tying goal. The Bulldog's power-play goal made the score 1-1 and sent the game into overtime.
Both teams picked up the pace in overtime, but it was the Badgers who would emerge with the victory. Jensen hit the puck on a turnaround shot and beat an unprepared Reichmuth stick side with 17 seconds left in the overtime session for the win. Freshmen Tom Gilbert(Bloomington, Minn.) and Adam Burish(Madison, Wis.) assisted on the game-winning goal.
Bruckler made 21 saves in the win and improves to 3-3-0, while Reichmuth drops to 3-4-1.
The Badgers will look for their next WCHA win when they travel to face North Dakota next weekend.
