Huskies Fall at Wisconsin Saturday

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• COACH PEARSON INTERVIEW

MADISON, Wis. – No. 5-ranked Michigan Tech was shutout for the first time this season, falling 2-0 at Wisconsin on Saturday (Jan. 3) night at the Kohl Center. Badger goaltender Joel Rumpel stood on his head, making 47 saves to give the home team the win.

In Friday's game, Rumpel gave up three goals in six shots. He was a whole different player on Saturday, stopping 12 shots in the first period, 10 in the second and 25 in the third.

"You don't score. You're not going to win," Tech coach Mel Pearson said. "It's hard to force offense like we did tonight.

"They (Wisconsin) showed some resiliency tonight and obviously their goalie was the first star."

The loss was Tech's first on the road this season and first against Wisconsin during the Mel Pearson era (3-1-2).

With just under five minutes to go (14:36) in the second period and the Badgers on the power play, Morgan Zulinick got in front of the Tech defense and finished off a play to give the home team the 1-0 lead. Jedd Soleway and Tim Davison picked up assists on the goal.

Tech had a ton of scoring chances in the third period. Chris Leibinger hit the crossbar 2:00 in. A few minutes later and with the Huskies on the power play, David Johnstone ripped a pair of one-timers that were saved.

Blake Pietila was robbed out front of Rumpel midway through the third and then rang one off the post later. Pietila did flip a puck into the back of the net, but the play was whistled dead on a high sticking call.

Joseph LaBate sealed the win for the Badgers scroing an empty net goal with 65 seconds left in the game after Tech goaltender Jamie Phillips was pulled with 1:26 remaining.

The Huskies were 0-for-4 on the man advantage while the home team was 1-for-1.

Phillips stopped 17 shots for Michigan Tech.

Tanner Kero finished with seven total shots on goal while Reid Sturos had six.

"We worked hard and did a lot of good things tonight," added Pearson. "We took a bad penalty and they scored on it. Our power play just couldn't get one in the net.

"Overall if we play like we did tonight, we're going to win a lot of games."

Tech returns to WCHA action next weekend (Jan. 9-10) with a home and away series against archrival Northern Michigan. The Wildcats and Huskies meet in Marquette on Friday and Houghton Saturday.

Saturday's game marks a stretch of nine straight home games at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Tech is offering a special ticket price of $120 for reserved seats for the final 10 home games. It's a savings of $50 off the regular price. Youth tickets are also $5 for the remaining home games.

The final 10 ticket package can't be purchased online. Get your tickets now by stopping in at the Central Ticket Office in the SDC or calling 906-487-2073. Single game tickets can be purchased online at BuyHuskiesTickets.com.