Men's Hockey | 1/6/2012 11:36:00 PM

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MADISON, WI – Wisconsin defenseman Justin Schultz recorded two goals and two assists, as the host Badgers (8-9-2) snapped the RIT men's hockey team's (10-7-2) two-game winning streak, 6-3 in front of an announced crowd of 11,741 fans at the Kohl Center on Friday night in a rematch of the 2010 Frozen Four Semifinal.  It is the largest regular season crowd the Tigers have ever played in front of in their 47-year history.

Wisconsin scored three straight power-play goals during the second and first minute of the third period that snapped a 1-1 tie and gave the Badgers a 4-1 lead.  RIT rallied with goals 45 seconds apart to cut Wisconsin's lead to 4-3 moments later, but the Badgers would pull away late to earn the win.

Both teams fired 33 shots, but the difference came on special teams, as Wisconsin scored three times in six chances with the man-advantage, while RIT was 0-for-2.

Michael Mersch, Jake McCabe, Sean Little, and Keegan Meuer also scored for the Badgers.  Mark Zengerle and Jefferson Dahl dished out a pair of assists.  In net, Landon Peterson stopped 30 shots to earn the victory.

Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings), Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers), and Adam Hartley (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) scored for the Tigers, who fall to 3-3-0 this season against non-conference foes. Shane Madolora (Salinas, CA/) made 27 saves to fall to 8-4-1.

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson thought that the special teams battle was the difference.

“Wisconsin has a great power-play and that was the difference tonight,” said Wilson.  “I thought we played well and battled hard 5-on-5, but we have to stay out of the (penalty) box.  We know tomorrow's game will be another tough battle.”

Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI/) had a glorious chance in front, taking a feed in tight from Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) just 20 seconds in front, but Peterson stood his ground and made the save.

Madolora made a great save on Schultz three minutes in, stacking the pads to make the save on a rising shot from in front.

The Badgers and Schultz took advantage of a poor RIT change, as the Anaheim Ducks draft pick sped through the neutral zone and past the RIT defenseman for a chance on Madolora.  Schultz, while getting harassed from behind, was able to slide a shot past a poke-check of Madolora and through the legs for the 1-0 lead 5:50 into the game.

That goal seemed to energize RIT, who had several great chances on a power-play, including chances on the doorstep from Adam Hartley (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) and Burt, both neither could convert with open nets.

RIT drew the equalizer at the 13:14 mark, as a shot by Daniel Spivak (Thornhill, Ontario/) was blocked in front and ricocheted right to Garbowsky, who roofed a shot under the crossbar and past Peterson for his fourth goal of the season.

The Tigers dominated the opening five minutes of the second period, generating several good chances, but were unable to get the go ahead goal.

At the 8:46 mark of the period, Schultz fired a shot towards the net that Mersch tipped past a screened Madolora for a power-play goal.

Just under five minutes later, Schultz found himself open in the slot, as he was able to walk in and rip a wrist shot over the shoulder of Madolora for his 11th goal of the season.

Just 17 seconds into the third period, once again on the power-play, McCabe took a feed from Schultz and fired a shot through traffic that eluded Madolora for his 12th goal of the season.

RIT scored twice in a span of 45 seconds to cut Wisconsin's lead to 4-3 and quiet the Kohl Center crowd.

At the 4:42 mark, Mitchell intercepted an errant clearing attempt at the top of the face-off circle, made a nifty move on a defender and ripped a shot into the upper corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

Forty-five seconds later, Hartley won the draw with Brandon Thompson (Vancouver, British Columbia/Handsworth) tipping a pass back to Chris Haltigin (Oakville, Ontario/) at the right point.  Haltigin's drive deflected off Hartley in the slot, then clanged off the post and the back of Peterson before crossing the goal line.  The goal was Hartley's sixth of the year.

RIT had a golden opportunity moments later, as they were awarded a power-play, but could not convert.

Little gave Wisconsin the important two-goal lead at the 10:42 mark, tipping in a shot from Dahl after a RIT turnover inside the blue-line.  Meuer finished the scoring four minutes later, slapping a shot from in close off the post and in.

Tempers flared with 1:40 to go as 57 minutes in penalties were handed out after a skirmish in the RIT zone.

The previous record regular season crowd to see RIT was 10,556, done both in 2010 and 2011 at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester as part of the university's Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend.   When the Tigers and Badgers played in the 2010 Frozen Four semifinal, 34,954 fans were in attendance.

Wisconsin won the Frozen Four Semifinal, 8-1 on April 8, 2010 in Detroit.  Twelve current Tigers and six Badgers played in that contest.

Tonight's win was the 200th at Wisconsin for Head Coach Mike Eaves.

Tonight's game was the fourth out of nine straight contests away from Ritter Arena, as RIT does not play at home again until January 27. So far, RIT is 2-1 on its road swing. After this weekend's contests, the Tigers play their final 14 regular season games against Atlantic Hockey Association opponents.

The two teams conclude their season series on Saturday evening, once again with an 8:07 p.m. EST opening faceoff.