Badgers Advance to NCAA Midwest Regional Finals

Wisconsin goalie Shane Connelly deflects the puck during the second period. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

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March 29, 2008

Behind two goals from sophomore Michael Davies (Chesterfield, Mo.) the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team (15-16-7, 11-12-5 WCHA) knocked off Denver (26-13-1, 16-11-1 WCHA) by a score of 6-2 in the NCAA Mideast Regional semifinals at the Kohl Center on Saturday. With the win, the Badgers advance to the regional finals where they will face No. 1 seeded North Dakota at 6 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 30.

Despite a week off from game action, the third seeded Badgers came out strong against the Pioneers, winning crucial battles in a hard fought 60 minutes. Wisconsin opened the game with a goal at 8:59 of the first period, scored by Davies. The sophomore fired home a rebound off a shot by Jamie McBain (Faribault, Minn.) to give the UW a one-goal lead.

Each team scored one goal in the middle frame before the Badgers opened their lead in the final period of play. Wisconsin took a 2-0 advantage on a power play at 8:15 in the second, this time from McBain. Denver cut the UW's lead to one when Dustin Jackson put the Pioneers on the scoreboard at 16:40 of the period. Jackson's power play goal was assisted by Jesse Martin and Tyler Ruegsegger.

The UW outscored the Pioneers, 4-1, in the final period of play to seal their NCAA regional semifinal victory. The Badgers netted a score from Cody Goloubef (Oakville, Ontario), a breakaway goal just 60 seconds later from John Mitchell (Neenah, Wis.), another goal from Davies and an empty-netter from senior captain Davis Drewiske (Hudson, Wis.). A native of Chesterfield, Mo., Davies has tallied points in seven of his last eight games as well as three 2-goal games on the season.

Denver's second and final goal came from the stick of Tom May at 11:47 in regulation.

Tomorrow's NCAA Midwest Regional final featuring the UW and UND will face off at 6p.m. on Sunday, March 30. UND topped Princeton, 5-1, earlier on Saturday at the Kohl Center. Earlier this season, Wisconsin and North Dakota split a series at the Kohl Center. The Badgers shut out UND on Friday, 4-0, but North Dakota came back on Saturday with a 3-1 victory.

Sunday's regional final will broadcast live on ESPNU. Fans can also hear the action on 1310-AM WIBA and on other affiliates throughout Wisconsin.