Oct. 23, 2009

 

Box Score | Box Score

Postgame Interviews

MADISON, Wis. -- The Badger men's hockey team travelled to Mankato, Minn. for a series against the Minnesota State Mavericks (2-3-0) in hopes of recording its first victory of the 2009-10 season. In front of a crowd of 4,352 people, the Badgers found the net early and continued from there, en route to a 6-0 victory over the Mavericks--which was their first win in the Verizon Wireless Center since Dec. 11, 2004. The first goal was credited to sophomore forward Derek Stepan (Hastings, Minn.) and put the Badgers up 1-0. A centering pass from freshman forward Craig Smith (Madison, Wis.) allowed Stepan to free himself from the Mavericks' defense and score on a backhand shot.

Badger junior defenseman Brendan Smith (Mimico, Ontario) did not give Stepan much time to celebrate his goal, as he scored on an unassisted breakaway just seconds later, putting UW up 2-0. The goal took some swift stick handling by Smith, as he skated past Maverick defenders end-to-end, before punching it in for the score. However, the Badgers still were not finished.

With 4:48 remaining in the first period, the Badgers added to their lead when senior tri-captain forward Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn.) scored to give the men a three-goal advantage. The score was a tap-in goal on the Badgers' power play. Brendan Smith scored his second point of the game with the secondary assist after his point shot hit off Michael Davies' (St. Louis) head.

At the end of the first, the Badgers had a 3-0 lead. It did not take UW long, however, to regain its momentum in the second.

Junior defensiveman Cody Goloubef (Oakville, Ontario) punched in the Badgers' fourth goal on a Badgers' power play, coming with 9:43 left in the second. He took MSU goalie Kevin Murdock by surprise and scored with a point wrist shot past traffic in front.

Sophomore forward Podge Turnbull (Hayward, Wis.) did not give the MSU defense much time to recover, because he scored less than four minutes later, putting UW up 5-0. He scored from behind the goal line after a pass from senior forward Michael Davies (St. Louis). Turnbull's shot hit off MSU goaltender Murdock and into the net.

The Badgers were still not done. Sophomore forward Jordy Murray (Faribault, Minn.) scored on a wrist shot with 1:39 remaining in the second. His goal was aided by a MSU defender, as the puck deflected off of the Maverick and found the back of the net. Junior tri-captain Ryan McDonagh (Arden Hills, Minn.) and senior forward Aaron Bendickson (Thief River Falls, Minn.) were credited with the primary and secondary assists, respectively.

Heading into the final period, the Badgers were at a 6-0 advantage. This is what the final score would read, as the Badgers shut out MSU for the first time ever. The Badgers outshot the Mavs 40-19, and the impressive goaltending aided the Badgers' victory.

Badger junior goaltender Brett Bennett was back in the crease for the men tonight for the second time in three games, as he recorded his first victory of the season and first shutout as a Badger. After saving 19 Maverick shots, he is now 1-1-0 on the year.

Minnesota State goaltender Kevin Murdock fell to 1-2-0 on the season, after being replaced by Phil Cook in the second period.

The Badgers are now 1-1-1 on the season, and look to get their second victory of the season tomorrow night. The game begins at 7 p.m. and will again be held in the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato. Using the momentum from Friday night's game, the Badgers hope to return to Madison 2-0 on the weekend, which would be a first after a trip to Mankato.

Brady Hartung

UW Athletic Communications