The Wisconsin men’s hockey team sent its seniors off in style Saturday night beating Penn State by a score of 4-3 to earn its second wins in the Big Ten season in the final home game of the 2015-2016 season.
Wisconsin responded nicely to an early goal by Penn State by following it up with two unanswered goals to take a 2-1 lead to the second period.
Penn State seized the lead less than five minutes into the game thanks to Kenny Brooks who found the puck after a deflected shot and fired one past a screened Matt Jurusik.
The first goal for the Badgers came on the power play after a mice breakout freshman Luke Kunin fed the puck across the slot to Jedd Soleway who tucked it past Penn State’s McAdam to tie it up.
Less than five minutes later, Jason Ford cleaned up a juicy rebound from Seamus Malone to put Wisconsin up 2-1. This was the first lead in the series for Wisconsin.
Riding that momentum into the second the Badges scored early and often. Once again with less than five minutes gone from the second period a goal was scored. Except this time it came off of freshman Matthew Freytag to give Wisconsin a 3-1 lead.
One minute and four seconds later, Corbin McGuire added a one timer past McAdam to give the Badgers a 4-1 lead early in the second period. McGuire’s goal would prove to be the last straw for McAdam who was replaced by Chris Funkey after the goal.
Grant Besse and Cameron Hughes had the assists on McGuire’s goal.
Funkey faired well for the rest of the second period not allowing another goal in the period. Stopping multiple shots he faced on a five on three man advantage and multiple odd man rush breakaways for the Badgers including a one on one battle with Ryan Wagner that Funkey stood strong for.
Funkey posted 13 saves and no goals allowed in the game.
Funkey’s efforts kept the game at just 4-1 entering the third and final period.
Penn State would pull within two scoring the first goal of the third period with 10:46 left to play from a beautiful power play goal.
Andrew Sturtz found a wide-open David Goodwin on the back door. Jurusik had no chance on that one but managed 46 saves on the night.
The 46 saves out of Jurusik were needed as Penn State kept it very interesting late adding a short-handed goal with just 1:46 remaining in the game. The 46 proved to be just enough to secure the Badgers a win for their last game at home for the 2015-2016 season.
The Badgers improved to 7-17-8 overall on the season and 2-12-4 in Big Ten play. They hit the road to finish off the season at Minnesota next weekend.
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