WILLISTON, ND – Paced by a hat trick and four total points from All-American Johnny Witzke, the University of Mary scored a season-high one dozen goals as the Marauders pummeled Williston State College 12-2. The Marauders lit the lamp six times in the first period to coast to their third win of the weekend.
 
UMary scored two power play goals and two others while skating shorthanded.
 
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 25-4-1-2 this season. The Tetons fall to 6-15-1-0.
 
Marcus Kopp opened the scoring for the Marauders just 3:25 into the game. Goal two followed eight seconds later when Garrett Freeman tallied the first of his two goals of the night. Witzke capitalized on a power play opportunity at 8:19 to push the Marauders advantage to 3-0.
 
The first period goals kept coming for the Marauders when Witzke scored again at 13:38. A scant 22 seconds later, the onslaught continued when Marshall Tschida found the net. Kyler Moore added the Marauders sixth and final goal of the first period at 18:03, scoring another power play goal off a feed from Witzke.
 
UMary added three more counters in the second period, including shorthanded goals by both Seth Cushing and Freeman.
 
Overall nine Marauders scored goals in the game. Freeman joined Witzke as the multi-goal scorers for UMary. In addition to his two goals, Freeman also had an assist for a three-point night.
 
Tanner Eskro had a goal and two assists, giving him four goals in the last three games. Tschida and Derek Dropik registered a goal and an assist, Ohnstad, Alex Flicek and Andrew Heckaman had two assists,
 
Conan Hayton posted 33 saves for the Marauders on a night the Marauders held a 54-35 edge in shots.
 
The Marauders next host 13^th ranked Dakota College at Bottineau on Saturday, February 5, to open a weekend home-and-away 2-game set with the Lumberjacks. Game time is 2 pm at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink in Mandan, ND.
 
#1 University of Mary 12 Williston State College 2
January 30, 2022 | Pete Conlin Sr. Arena | Williston, ND
 
University of Mary 6 3 3 – 12
Williston State 0 0 2 - 2
 
1st Period- 1, UM, Marcus Kopp (Marshall Tschida, Justin Ohnstad) 3:25. 2, UM, Garrett Freeman (Zach Garrett, Andrew Heckaman), 3:33. 3, UM, Johnny Witzke (Freeman, Heckaman), PPG, 8:19. 4, UM, Witzke (Alex Flicek), 13:38. 5, UM, Tschida (Drew Lenertz, Flicek), 14:00. 6, UM, Kyler Moore (Witzke), PPG, 18:03. Penalties: UMary 3 for 6 minutes, WSC 5 for 10 minutes.
 
2^nd Period- 7, UM, Derek Dropik (Tanner Eskro, Connor Hanson), 4:50. 8, UM, Seth Cushing (Eskro), SHG, 7:48. 9, UM, Freeman, SHG, 11:19. 10, UM, Witzke (Ryan Wolf, Eskro), 18:10. Penalties: UMary 3 for 9 minutes, WSC 1 for 2 minutes.
 
3^rd Period- 11, WSC, Matt McCall (Alex Bailey, Jordan Skahill), PPG, 4:41. 12, UM, Eskro (Dropik), 8:18. 13, WSC, Bailey (Wade Auger, Isaac Ellingson), PPG, 10:15. 14, UM, Cyril Nagurski (Braeden Zaste, Ohnstad), 11:38. Penalties: UMary 3 for 6 minutes, WSC 3 for 9 minutes.
 
Shots on Goal- University of Mary 20-11-23 54. Williston State College 9-10-16 35.
Power Play Opportunities-University of Mary 2 / 5. Williston State College 2/4
Goalies – University of Mary, Conan Hayton (35 shots-33 saves). Williston State College, Riley Christenson (12 shots – 7 saves, Freddy Peters (42-35 saves)
 
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