MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO – A trio of third period goals carried top-ranked University of Mary past 3^rd ranked Lindenwood University 5-2, earning the visiting Marauders a weekend sweep over the Lions in a battle between two of the nation's top teams in American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 2. Andrew Huber, Tanner Eskro and Seth Cushing all scored in the final period for the Marauders to send UMary to the win.
 
The Marauders finished the Lindenwood Showcase – featuring the nation's top three teams - undefeated. UMary opened the weekend with a 4-3 overtime win over Lindenwood before skating to a 1-1 tie with #2 Liberty University. The Lions defeated the Flames on Saturday before the Marauders closed out the showcase with a 5-2 win over the host team.
 
UMary improves to 29-2-5-1 (W-L-T-OTL) this season overall, including a mark of 26-1-4-0 against teams ranked in the current ACHA M2 poll. Lindenwood slips to 10-4-0-1.
 
Even at a pair of goals apiece through two periods and second straight overtime between UMary and Lindenwood looming, the Marauders claimed a 3-2 lead with 6:58 left in the game on a goal by Andrew Huber. A long shot from the left point by Marshall Tschida was redirected by Zach Garrett from the end boards to the left side of the net for Huber to tap home. It was Huber's 18^th goal of the season.
 
With time starting to run out on the Lions, the Marauders doubled their lead to 4-2 with 2:52 left in the game. Following up on a long shot from Andrew Heckaman, Tanner Eskro pounced on the rebound and jammed the puck home from just outside the crease.
 
An end to end rush 36 seconds later sealed the game. Started in the Marauders defensive zone on a pass from Jaren Hugelen, Johnny Witzke hit Seth Cushing in the neutral zone breaking down the left boards. Coming in on a 2-on-1, Cushing held the puck and beat Lions goalkeeper Michael Errico for Cushing's team-leading 29^th goal of the season.
 
UMary dominated the final period, taking 17 shots to just six for Lindenwood after holding just a two-shot lead after the first two periods. For the game the Marauders held a 42-29 edge in shots.
 
The Marauders and the Lions spent the first two periods trading goals. Kyler Moore opened the scoring at 16:34 of the first period before Timothy Marchant tied the game 19 seconds later. With both teams short a skater due to concurrent penalties near the end of the first period, Marshall Tschida scored just 28 seconds into the second period. Lindenwood pulled even at 2-2 on a power play goal with 3:13 left in the period.
 
Kyle Hayden posted 27 saves in the game for a second straight strong start on the weekend. Hayden also backstopped the Marauders in their 1-1 tie against the Flames.  
 
The Marauders return home to host Minot State University on Wednesday, March 10, at 7 pm. The Beavers are ranked fourth in ACHA Division 1.
 
 
#1 University of Mary 5 #3 Lindenwood University 2
Sunday, March 7, 2021
Centene Community Ice Center | Maryland Heights, MO
 
#1 University of Mary                      1 1 3 - 5
#3 Lindenwood University               1 1 0 - 2
 
1st Period-1, University of Mary, Kyler Moore 14 (Jaren Hugelen, Cyril Nagurski), 16:34. 2, Lindenwood University, Timothy Marchant 2 (Nils Tofilovski), 16:53. Penalties- Johnny Witzke UMary (delay of game), 19:59; Marchant LU (delay of game), 19:59.
 
2nd Period-3, University of Mary, Marshall Tschida 9, 0:28. 4, M2 Lindenwood University, Alex Klaesner 11 (Cameron Seto, Luke Gassett), 16:47 (PP). Penalties- Braxton Walby LU (cross checking), 0:52; Eric Fisher LU (delay of game), 7:26; Seth Cushing UMary (roughing), 7:35; Tyler Eskro UMary (high sticking), 10:36; Alex Flicek UMary (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:18; Connor Hanson UMary (tripping), 17:19; Robert Bross LU (slashing), 17:55.
 
3rd Period-5, University of Mary, Andrew Huber 18 (Garrett, Tschida), 13:02. 6, University of Mary, Eskro 10 (Riley Scanlon, Andrew Heckaman), 17:08. 7, University of Mary, Cushing 29 (Witzke, Hugelen), 17:44. Penalties-Flicek UMary (interference), 7:12; Prav Dhaliwal LU (cross checking), 19:28.
 
Shots on Goal-University of Mary 13-12-17-42. Lindenwood University 13-10-6-29.
Power Play Opportunities- University of Mary 0 / 4; Lindenwood University 1 / 5.
Goalies- University of Mary, Kyle Hayden 14-0-1-0 (29 shots-27 saves). Lindenwood University, Michael Errico 3-2-1-0 (42 shots-37 saves).
 
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