Dogs trade a pair of wins
Brett Ausmus
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: Sports
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UMD is now 4-4-3 on the year and 1-4-2 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), while the Badgers bump up to 4-6-2 overall and 4-4-2 in the WCHA.
"We were disappointed with our performance Saturday," said assistant Bulldogs coach Brett Larson. "We played well Friday and we expected the same intensity Saturday, and we didn't see it."
UMD has been struggling as of late and has had only one win in their past seven games.
On Friday night, the Bulldogs battled out a tie in an evenly matched affair between the two teams.
Wisconsin started the scoring with a goal from sophomore right winger Patrick Johnson at 14:18 into the first period.
UMD would answer back in the second period with a blistering shot by freshman left winger Mike Connolly, giving him four goals on the year to tie the game at one.
Sophomore defenseman Evan Oberg would add a goal late in the second period off a power play, giving UMD a 2-1 lead going in to the third period.
Wisconsin would fire back with two goals from junior center Blake Geoffrion, giving the Badgers a 3-2 lead with 5:39 left to play in the game.
Sophomore right winger Justin Fontaine would score 53 seconds later for the Bulldogs and the game was tied.
In overtime, neither team could muster a goal, leaving the score tied 3-3.
Bulldog junior goaltender Alex Stalock and Badger senior goaltender Shane Connelly each accumulated 25 saves and allowed three goals on the night.
Both teams played nearly identical the entire game, each firing 28 shots on goal, scoring a power-play goal and both held a one goal lead at some point during the game, according to the UMD Web site.
This would not be the case Saturday as the Badgers would score three goals, one of which was shorthanded, before senior defenseman Josh Meyers would score his fourth goal of the year on a power play with 13:59 left to play.
The Bulldogs played with more fire after the goal, but could not get the puck past the Wisconsin goaltender.
The Badgers would convert on an empty net goal with 20 seconds remaining, giving them a 4-1 lead.
UMD only converted one out of nine powerplay opportunities, according to the UMD Web site.
"We didn't come ready to play Saturday," said freshman center Jack Connolly. "We are just as talented and have great work ethic, but we need to improve on the little things."
Stalock finished with 35 saves, while the Badger's Connelly stopped 28 shots.
UMD will host North Dakota this weekend at the DECC, and the games are scheduled at 7:37 p.m. Friday night and 7:07 p.m. Saturday night.
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