MANDAN, ND – A lightning fast start propelled the University of Mary to a 5-2 win over Montana State University, completing a Marauders weekend sweep of the Bobcats.
The Marauders, the defending American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 champions and the top-ranked team in both the nation and the West region, improved their record to 24-4-1-2 this season with a fourth win over the Bobcats. Montana State, ranked 5
th in the West, is 14-11-1-0 with four losses to UMary. The Marauders are now 11-0 all-time against the Bobcats.
With the home crowd still finding their seats,
Kyler Moore electrified the building when he scored just 17 seconds into the game to give the Marauders an advantage UMary would never relinquish.
Marcus Kopp doubled the Marauders lead to 2-0 with a goal at 9:57 of the first period, burying a feed from
Braeden Zaste.
The game turned late in the second period. With the Bobcats looking to take advantage of a power play opportunity to cut the Marauders lead in half, UMary instead turned the tables on Montana State.
Johnny Witzke took a puck away from a pair of Bobcat attackers in the Marauders defensive zone and lasered a cross ice pass to
Tanner Eskro. Skating at full speed, Eskro picked up the puck just before the blue line and skated in all alone on Montana State netminder Jorgen Johnson. Eskro, who tallied twice in the Marauders 5-1 win on Friday, buried a backhander for a shorthanded goal at 15:35 to push UMary's lead to 3-0.
The Marauders kept the pressure up early in the third period.
Garrett Freeman buried the puck at the 3:01 mark before
Justin Ohnstad sealed the win with a goal at 7:11.
The Bobcats scored the last two goals of the night but would never seriously threaten the Marauders.
The Marauders fourth line of Zaste, Ohnstad and Kopp finished with six points on the night. Ohnstad and Kopp both registered a goal and an assist while Zaste posted a pair of assists.
Zach Garrett and Moore also had multi-point nights. Garrett had a pair of helpers and Moore totaled a goal and an assist.
Once again stellar in net,
Kyle Hayden made 24 saves for the Marauders. Johnson finished with 26 stops for the Bobcats.
The Marauders weekend continues with a road trip to Williston State College on Sunday, January 30. Game time against the Tetons is 5 pm.
M2 Montana State University 2 at M2 University of Mary 5 - Status: Final
Saturday, January 29, 2022 - Starion Sports Complex
M2 Montana State University 0 0 2 - 2
M2 University of Mary 2 1 2 - 5
1st Period-1, M2 University of Mary, Moore 13 (Garrett), 0:17. 2, M2 University of Mary, Kopp 4 (Zaste, Ohnstad), 9:57. Penalties-Doss Monsu (roughing), 15:21; Moore Umary (roughing), 15:21; Moore Umary (10-minute misconduct), 15:24; Garrett Umary (tripping), 19:28.
2nd Period-3, M2 University of Mary, Eskro 9 (Witzke), 15:35 (SH). Penalties-Brownell Monsu (high sticking), 8:06; Cushing Umary (elbowing), 15:18.
3rd Period-4, M2 University of Mary, Freeman 14 (Garrett, Moore), 3:01. 5, M2 University of Mary, Ohnstad 4 (Zaste, Kopp), 7:11. 6, M2 Montana State University, Klem 12 (Mckay, Mckay), 8:32. 7, M2 Montana State University, Mckay 17 (Klem, Mckay), 17:31 (PP). Penalties-Coon Monsu (tripping), 14:35; Witzke Umary (interference), 16:59; Coon Monsu (high sticking), 18:19; Brownell Monsu (roughing), 19:45; Freeman Umary (roughing), 19:45.
Shots on Goal-M2 Montana State University 6-10-10-26. M2 University of Mary 10-9-12-31.
Power Play Opportunities-M2 Montana State University 1 / 2; M2 University of Mary 0 / 3.
Goalies-M2 Montana State University, Johnson 0-2-0-0 (31 shots-26 saves). M2 University of Mary, Hayden 16-3-0-0 (26 shots-24 saves).
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