MANDAN, ND – Playing on their home ice in the University of Mary hockey team's first-ever national tournament appearance, the Marauders dominated Davenport University. Two goals late in the first period and a smothering defensive effort led the Marauders to a 6-0 win over the Panthers in the first game of pool play at the 2021 American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 National Tournament.
With the first period rapidly coming to a close, the Marauders cracked the scoreboard on a
Seth Cushing goal with just 61 seconds remaining on the clock. Standing alone outside the crease, Cushing knocked home the rebound of a
Jaren Hugelen shot from the left circle.
Just 21 seconds later the Marauders tallied again and once again Cushing played a key role. UMary's leading goal scorer chased down the puck behind the Panthers net and whipped a centering pass to
Riley Scanlon. Scanlon buried the opportunity in the slot and the Marauders entered the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.
The Marauders added a pair of goals in each of the next two periods.
Derek Dropik and Alexander Flicek both scored in the second and
Johnny Witzke and Flicek tallied in the third. Flicek's first goal was a shorthanded effort and Witzke's came on a power play.
While the Marauders offense was firing off 54 shots, the UMary defense gave up just nine shots in the game. All the Panthers shots came in the first two periods as the Marauders defense didn't allow a shot in the third.
All-American
Kyle Hayden stopped all nine shots he faced in the game to earn his fifth shutout of the year, tying the Marauders single season record.
Flicek finished with two goals and an assist. Cushing and Witzke both had a goal and an assist. ACHA M2 Player of the Year
Zach Garrett assisted on two goals.
The Marauders are the top seed in Pool A and the top seed in the tournament. The Panthers are the fourth seed in Pool A.
UMary next faces the University of Providence on Friday, April 16, in day two of pool play. Game time is 7 pm at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink.
Pool play for all 16 teams in the tournament wraps up on Saturday. The top team in each pool advances to the semifinals on Monday, April 19. The championship game is set for Tuesday, April 20.
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