Box Score Nov. 14, 2009
Box Score | Box Score 
Quotes | Press Conference
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin men's hockey team (6-3-1, 4-3-1 WCHA) finished off its sweep of the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (4-8-0, 2-6-0 WCHA) after beating them 6-2 Saturday night in the Kohl Center. Behind two goals and an assist by senior tri-captain Ben Street (Coquitlam, British Columbia), the Badgers were able to prevail. Freshman forward Craig Smith (Madison, Wis.) contributed his second goal of the series and the year en route to the Badgers' win.
The Seawolves struck first. After a scoreless first 15 minutes of the first period, senior Josh Lunden punched one in for Anchorage at the 4:28 mark.
Just eleven seconds later, Street notched his third goal of the season, tying the game at one. Freshman Derek Lee (North Vancouver, British Columbia) advanced the puck to senior Ben Grotting (Birmingham, Ala.), who was on the side of the net. Grotting found a slashing Street skating to the left side, who gained control of the puck and cashed it in for the Badgers.
This concluded the scoring in the first, with the teams locked up at a goal apiece. Together, the teams took 14 shots, 10 of which belonged to UW.
Wisconsin took its first lead of the game at the 7:23 mark of the second period after senior tri-captain Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn.) scored his sixth goal of the season. Geoffrion stole a loose puck in the skates of a Seawolves' defender behind the net. From there, he skated around the front of the net and fired a top-shelf goal past UAA goalie Bryce Christianson, putting the Badgers up 2-1. Sophomore forward Derek Stepan (Hastings, Minn.) and junior tri-captain Ryan McDonagh (Arden Hills, Minn.) were credited with the two assists.
This accounted for all the scoring in the second. The Badgers' powerful defense was making shooting very difficult for UAA. Just like in the first period, the Seawolves were only able to attempt four shots on goal in the second. Wisconsin, on the other hand, had 13 shots on goal. The Badgers were outshooting the Seawolves 23-8, altogether.
Just 2:32 into the third, Wisconsin added to its lead. The goal was scored by junior forward Patrick Johnson (Madison, Wis.) for his first goal of the year, and his first in 17 games. Junior defenseman Brendan Smith (Mimico, Ontario), who was at mid-ice, got the puck to senior forward John Mitchell (Neenah, Wis.). Mitchell skated to the top of the faceoff circle, before finding a wide-open Johnson, who was cutting down the middle at the net. Mitchell's pass led Johnson, so he laid out and managed to glide it past the Seawolf defender. This put the Badgers up 3-1 in the contest.
The Seawolves attempted to crawl their way back after senior Josh Lunden short-handedly scored his second goal of the night, bringing UAA within one at the 13:24 mark of the third.
Freshman forward Craig Smith (Madison, Wis.) did not let them stay within one for long. At the 12:18 mark, he scored his second goal in as many nights. Junior defenseman Cody Goloubef (Oakville, Ontario) advanced the puck up the ice to Craig Smith. From there, Smith outmuscled his way to the net and managed to fire a rocket past the UAA's Christianson. Street was credited with the secondary assist, his second point of the contest. This gave the Badgers some cushion at 4-2.
The cushion got bigger when freshman defenseman Justin Schultz (West Kelowna, B.C.) scored his first goal as a Badger with just under three minutes remaining in the third. After UAA pulled its goalie, nothing stood in the way between Schultz and the goal. Assists were credited to Goloubef and Stepan, the second of the game for both. The Badgers scored once more in the contest, and it was by Street again. After Street snuck behind the Anchorage defense, Goloubef found him for his second assist. Street delivered a shot from just outside the faceoff circle, cementing the Wisconsin victory. The secondary assist was credited to Jordy Murray. The score was now 6-2 in favor of Wisconsin with just over 11 seconds remaining.
Scott Gudmandson (Sherwood Park, Alberta) found himself in the net for UW tonight. He stopped 11 UAA shots and is now 2-1-1 on the year. Christianson managed to stop 33 Badger shots, as his record fell to 2-4-0 on the year. The Badgers led the Seawolves in shots on goal, outshooting them 42-13 in the game.
The Badgers hit the road and head westward next weekend, where they will play the St. Cloud State Huskies on Friday and Saturday. Both games get underway at 7 p.m.
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Brady Hartung, UW Athletic Communications
