HIGHLAND PARK, MN –
Garrett Freeman posted a pair of goals and had a hand in half of the University of Mary scoring in the Marauders 6-4 win at the University of St. Thomas. After a pair of defensive tussles to start the season, the Marauders finished an opening weekend sweep in the high-scoring contest.
The defending ACHA M2 national-champion Marauders opened the season with 2-1 and 1-0 wins at Iowa State University in a rematch of the 2021 title game. The scoring floodgates opened a little more in UMary's third game in three days.
Following a scoreless opening period, the Marauders struck twice early in the second. In his first season at UMary, Freeman scored his first goal for the Marauders less than two minutes into the middle period. Two minutes later
Tanner Eskro pushed the UMary lead to 2-0 with his first goal since scoring the game-winner in the national championship game last April.
The Tommies soon found their stride and scored the next two goals to draw even at 2-2 with just five minutes elapsed in the second period.
The sudden scoring outburst continued when Freeman struck again at 8:42 of the second to give the Marauders a lead the squad would never again relinquish.
Kyler Moore, who had the winning goal in overtime on opening night, doubled the Marauders lead to 4-2 in the third before
Isaiah Thomas found the net at the 7:20 mark to give UMary a three goal lead. Refusing to fade, the Tommies scored again before reigning ACHA M2 Player of the Year
Zach Garrett sealed the game at 11:17 when he found the net for the first time this year.
In addition to two goals, Freeman also picked up an assist on the Thomas goal. Garrett was the other UMary player with multiple points after he provided the assist on the Eskro goal.
Making his third straight start,
Kyle Hayden made 21 saves in the game. Sam Hopfeur had 39 saves for the Tommies.
Next up for the Marauders is a pair of homecoming weekend games against the University of Minnesota. UMary makes its home debut on Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Schwan Cadillac Rink at the Starion Sports Complex. The 2021 ACHA championship banner will be unfurled at 6:50 pm with the Marauders-Gophers game to follow at 7 pm. On Sunday, October 10, UMary and Minnesota face off at 2 pm.
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