BOISE, ID – In the marquee matchup of the Bronco Showcase featuring last season's top two teams in the West, the University of Mary tallied twice in the third period to edge Northern Arizona University 4-3.
Alex Flicek led the Marauders attack with a pair of goals.
The Marauders (4-0 overall) and the Ice Jacks (1-2) were the top-ranked teams in the final ACHA Division II West Region rankings last winter. Northern Arizona advanced to the 2019 national tournament. UMary was ineligible to compete in postseason play as a first-year program.
UMary struck first when
Andrew Huber scored unassisted with just under five minutes remaining in the opening period.
Northern Arizona retaliated just 44 seconds into the second period on a Reise Kieffer goal.
Taking advantage of an Ice Jacks penalty, Flicek scored on the power play at the 9:24 mark, taking advantage of assists from
Kyler Moore and
Matt Winkle. The Marauders new-found lead lasted a scant 22 seconds when Jakob Nelson found the net to knot the game at 2-2 after two.
Defenseman
Johnny Witzke stepped forward to break the tie for the Marauders in the third, teaming with
Logan Kraft to gain a 3-2 advantage at 8:29. Flicek and UMary stunned NAU 77 seconds later, doubling the Marauders lead to 4-2.
Matt Winkle provided the assist, his second of the game.
The Ice Jacks managed to pull within a goal at 4-3 with only 1:29 left in the game on a Lucas Lomax power play goal. Lomax had previously assisted on both of the Ice Jacks earlier goals.
Lance Knudson and the Marauders defense successfully retained the UMary lead as the squad earned a victory in their first road game of the season. Knudson finished with 24 saves in the game. NAU netminder Christian Ross was peppered with 38 shots and made 34 saves.
The Marauders were cited for seven penalties for 14 minutes. UMary had four power play opportunities and scored once. NAU was 1-for-6 on the power play and had 10 minutes of penalties on five infractions.
UMary next faces Weber State on Friday, Sept. 27, before tangling with Bronco Showcase host Boise State on Saturday, Sept. 28. The four-game series concluded Sunday, Sept. 29, against Metro State University of Denver.
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