BOZEMAN, MT – It took 328 days, and it came down to the final seconds, but time finally ran out on the University of Mary. After winning 34 straight games, the 2-time defending national champion Marauders dropped a 3-2 decision at Montana State University for UMary's first loss since December 4, 2021.
 
The Marauders finished last season on a 20-game win streak that was capped by a triple overtime victory in the 2022 American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 championship game. UMary then opened the 2022-23 season with 14 straight victories.
 
The night started on a positive note for the Marauders. Riley Scanlon played a puck off the wall in the UMary defensive zone to Caleb Petrie, who led a breakaway down the left boards. From the circle. Petrie fed Derek Dropik in the slot who delivered a withering backhand over the shoulder of Bobcats goaltender Jorgen Johnson into the left side of the net for a 1-0 UMary lead just 1:50 into the game.
 
UMary maintained its one goal advantage until midway through the second period when Teaghan McAvoy scored on a low-angle shot from the right corner to tie the game. Just over two minutes later Ryan Perius scored off a rebound to the right of the UMary net to give Montana State a 2-1 lead at 7:43. With 26 seconds remaining in the second the Bobcats doubled their lead to 3-1 on a Steven Irick goal from Luke McKay's second assist of the night.
 
Struggling to score since their initial goal, the Marauders took advantage of a Bobcats penalty to tally a power play goal with 39.4 seconds left in the game when Jaren Hugelen scored off assists from Petrie and Alex Flicek. Playing with an empty net for much of the last 3:30 of the game, the Marauders produced a couple more shots on Johnson but couldn't find the equalizer.
 
Conan Hayton has another stellar night in net, turning away 29 of the 32 shots he faced in the game. He was forced to make 14 saves in the second period after 11 in the first but saw just four shots in the third.
 
Johnson had 28 saves for MSU, including nine in the third period.
 
The Marauders were whistled for six penalties for 12 minutes, including three penalties in the decisive third period. MSU had three penalties for six minutes.
 
For the second straight game the Marauders were forced to kill off six opposing power plays without allowing a goal. UMary finished 1-for-3 on the power play.
 
This was the Marauders first loss to the Bobcats after 11 straight wins.
 
The Marauders and the Bobcats finish up their 2-game series on Saturday, Oct. 29. Game time is 7:30 pm MT/8:30 pm CST
 
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