BOULDER, CO – A pair of goals by all-region defenseman Marshall Tschida propelled the University of Mary past host University of Colorado 4-1. The Marauders scored the first three goals of the game and finished the Big Mountain Classic undefeated, victorious in all four games.

The top-ranked team in the latest ACHA Division II national poll, the Marauders improve to 31-6 overall this season, including a 23-1 mark against West region opposition.

The first multi-goal game of the season for Tschida, the Woodbury, MN, native opened the scoring just 4:40 into the game. Taking a feed from Cody Shepard and Zach Garrett, Tschida staked the Marauders to a quick 1-0 lead.

Benefitting from a man advantage early in the season period, Tschida scored a power play goal at 2:28 of the second period. His 12^th goal of the season doubled the Marauders advantage. Less than seven minutes later, UMary's lead increased to 3-0 on a Logan Kraft goal. The Buffaloes eventually cut into the Marauders advantage on a Trey Konsella power play goal at 12:43.
 
Behind a strong performance in net by Lance Knudson, the Marauders wouldn't need any more goals but added a fourth late in the game. With 20 seconds remaining in the contest, Andrew Heckaman scored into an empty net to provide the final margin.
With his second two-point performance at the Big Mountain Classic, Tschida finished the four-game weekend set with six points on three goals and three assists. Heckaman joined his fellow defenseman with a two-point game, adding an assist to his goal.

Knudson stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced to earn his second win during the weekend in Colorado.

UMary fired 45 shots at the Colorado net. Both reams finished 1-for-4 on power play opportunities.

The Marauders now return home to host Dakota College at 7 pm on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Schwan Cadillac Rink in the Starion Sports Complex in Mandan, ND.

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