MANDAN, ND – Playing at home for the first time in seven weeks, #1 University of Mary pulled away from Montana State University behind a pair of third-period goals from Tanner Eskro for a 5-1 Marauders win over the Bobcats.
 
The Marauders, the defending American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 champions and the top-ranked team in the West region, improved their record to 23-4-1-2 this season with a third straight win over the Bobcats. Montana State, ranked 5^th in the West, is 14-10-1-0 with three losses to UMary.
 
In a closely played contest, the Marauders opened the scoring with a pair of first-period goals. After just missing the net on two prior chances, Seth Cushing took a long pass from Andrew Heckaman and blew past a Bobcats defender along the left boards on a breakaway. Cutting inside, Cushing slid the pack through the pads of MSU netminder Jorgen Johnson at 14:14 for his 16^th goal of the season.
 
A little over three minutes later, the Marauders took advantage of their third of eight power play opportunities of the night. Kyler Moore won a faceoff to the right of the Bobcats goal, drawing the puck back to Heckaman. A long shot by the UMary defender from atop the circle was deflected into the net by Zach Garrett, who planted himself just outside the crease.
 
Montana State used its own power play goal to pull with 2-1 midway through the second period when Zach Lane found the back of the net at 9:17.
 
The Bobcats stuck doggedly to the Marauders in hopes of finding an equalizer that never came. Instead MSU made a catastrophic mistake just before the second intermission when Caleb Brownell was called for hooking at 19:37, his second of three penalties in the game.
 
With time running out on the middle stanza, Kyler Moore buried a feed inside the right circle for Johnny Witzke for a power play goal with 10 seconds remaining, boosting the Marauders advantage to 3-1.
 
The rest of the game belonged to Eskro and the Marauders. The second-year winger for the Marauders capitalized on a Bobcats turnover in their defensive end. Jaren Hugelen stole the puck just inside the blue line and fired a pass towards Eskro, who was breaking towards the net. Eskro lifted a shot over Johnson for a 4-1 UMary lead at 2:01 of the third period. Eskro then sealed the win with an empty net goal with 2:37 left to play, his eighth goal of the season.
 
The Bobcats held a slight 35-34 edge in shots but were whistled for 11 penalties totaling 22 minutes. The Marauders scored twice on their eight opportunities with an extra skater. UMary committed eight penalties and MSU scored once on four power play opportunities.
 
Kyle Hayden finished with 33 saves for UMary. Johnson stopped 29 shots.
 
Heckaman and Witzke both had two assists for UMary. Moore had a goal and an assist.
 
The Marauders and the Bobcats close out the weekend on Saturday, January 29. Face off is 7 pm at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink.
 
M2 Montana State University 1 at M2 University of Mary 5 - Status: Final
Friday, January 28, 2022 - Starion Sports Complex
 
M2 Montana State University 0 1 0 - 1
M2 University of Mary 2 1 2 - 5
 
1st Period-1, M2 University of Mary, Cushing 16 (Heckaman, Witzke), 14:14. 2, M2 University of Mary, Garrett 15 (Heckaman, Moore), 17:24 (PP). Penalties-Danenhauer Monsu (tripping), 7:32; Mckay Monsu (slashing), 17:17; Herman Monsu (checking from behind), 18:46.
 
2nd Period-3, M2 Montana State University, Lane 13 (Perius), 9:17 (PP). 4, M2 University of Mary, Moore 12 (Witzke), 19:50 (PP). Penalties-Heckaman Umary (tripping), 7:20; Phelps Monsu (tripping), 11:20; Brownell Monsu (roughing), 12:34; Freeman Umary (slashing, roughing), 12:34; Hugelen Umary (cross checking), 15:42; Brownell Monsu (hooking), 19:37.
 
3rd Period-5, M2 University of Mary, Eskro 7 (Hugelen), 2:01. 6, M2 University of Mary, Eskro 8 (Tschida), 17:13 (SH EN). Penalties-Doss Monsu (hooking), 13:13; Mckay Monsu (cross checking), 15:30; Heckaman Umary (cross checking), 15:30; Moore Umary (bench-coach), 16:40; Brownell Monsu (slashing), 17:13; Solanik Monsu (tripping), 17:49; Herman Monsu (roughing), 20:00; Heckaman Umary (roughing), 20:00; Witzke Umary (major-charging), 20:00.
 
Shots on Goal-M2 Montana State University 11-12-12-35. M2 University of Mary 14-9-11-34.
Power Play Opportunities-M2 Montana State University 1 / 4; M2 University of Mary 2 / 8.
Goalies-M2 Montana State University, Johnson 0-1-0-0 (33 shots-29 saves). M2 University of Mary, Hayden 15-3-0-0 (35 shots-34 saves).
A-675
 
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