Ryan MacMurchy scored four goals Saturday night to lead the University of Wisconsin to a series sweep at St. Cloud.
The Badgers improved to 15-6-1 overall, 12-4-0 in conference play with the win, maintaining their grip on first place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
MacMurchy opened the game’s scoring with a goal at 16:00 in the first period, taking advantage of a 5 on 3 power play. Just 57 seconds later, however, Huskie senior forward Dave Iannazzo tied the game with a short-handed tally.
The game remained tied 1-1 until MacMurchy notched his first of two second-period goals 8:28 into that session. The junior forward picked up a hat trick 1:44 later, giving the Badgers a 3-1 edge.
St. Cloud freshman forward Andrew Gordon drew the Huskies within 3-2 at 8:41 in the third period with a power-play goal, but Wisconsin goaltender Bernd Bruckler made eight third-period saves to preserve the Badgers’ lead. Bruckler finished with 16 saves.
MacMurchy capped his exceptional evening with an empty-net goal at 19:08 in the third. He now has nine goals and 20 points this season.
St. Cloud fell to 8-12-2, 4-10-0 with the loss.