MANDAN, ND – A pair of goals by both Seth Cushing and Garrett Freeman sparked the University of Mary to an 11^th straight win. On a night the Marauders celebrated their five seniors, UMary remained undefeated in Dakota Cup play with a 6-2 win over visiting Williston State College.
 
The Marauders, the defending American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Men's Division 2 champions and the top-ranked team in both the nation and the West region, improved their record to 29-4-1-2 this season. This is the second time this season the Marauders have won 11 straight games.
 
UMary is 2-0 at the conclusion of day of Dakota Cup play. 11^th ranked Dakota College at Bottineau also remains undefeated after skating past the University of Jamestown 7-2 in the opening game of the day.
 
The Marauders and the Lumberjacks face off for the Dakota Cup championship when the two teams meet on Sunday, February 13. Also the final home game of the season for the Marauders, game time is 2 pm at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink in Mandan. The Jimmies and the Tetons look for their first win of the weekend when the two schools open the final day of Dakota Cup play at 11 am.
 
Cushing found the net first when he tallied at 9:15 of the opening period. With the puck behind the net, Alex Flicek spotted Cushing left alone in the slot. With the puck barely touching his stick, Cushing fired a rocket into the left side of the net for a quick 1-0 lead.
 
The Marauders the took advantage of their first power play opportunity of the night a short time later. Playing a carom off the back boards from a shot by Andrew Heckaman, Freeman converted a low angle shot from the right side of the net at the bottom of the circle just 61 seconds after the Cushing counter to double the Marauders lead.   
 
The Tetons quickly recovered as Jesse Keicher tallied 50 seconds later.
 
Cushing increased the Marauders lead to 3-1 just 1:59 before intermission. Scoring in a similar fashion to his opening goal, Cushing picked up the puck in the slot off another Flicek pass from behind the net.
 
The Marauders built their lead to 5-1 with a pair of second period goals. Freeman knocked home his second goal of the game at 6:10. Freeman nearly completed a hat trick late in the period during a Marauders penalty kill. Skating hard at the net with a defender blanketing him, Freeman's shot in the crease was turned away by Tetons goalkeeper Austyn Melin. With Williston State unable to clear the rebound, Zach Garrett stuffed home the puck at the 16:30 mark for the senior All-American's 16 goal of the season.
 
Just 63 seconds later Seth Davis connected on a power play goal for the Tetons to close the gap to 5-2 at the end of the second period.
 
UMary closed the scoring on a goal by Drew Lenertz early in the third period.
 
Freeman finished the game with three points on a goal and an assist. Joining Cushing with two points was Tanner Eskro, Flicek and Derek Dropik with two assists each.
 
Conan Hayton finished the game with 19 saves for UMary. Melin had 46 for the Tetons.
 
Seniors honored by the Marauders were Garrett, Heckaman, Marshall Tschida, Marcus Kopp and Kyler Moore.
 
M2 Williston State College 2 at M2 University of Mary 6 - Status: Final
Saturday, February 12, 2022 - Starion Sports Complex
 
M2 Williston State College 1 1 0 - 2
M2 University of Mary 3 2 1 - 6
 
1st Period-1, M2 University of Mary, Cushing 18 (Flicek, Eskro), 9:59. 2, M2 University of Mary, Freeman 18 (Heckaman, Witzke), 10:16 (PP). 3, M2 Williston State College, Keicher 4 (Arndt), 11:06. 4, M2 University of Mary, Cushing 19 (Flicek, Eskro), 18:01. Penalties-Ellingson Wsc (hooking), 9:53.
 
2nd Period-5, M2 University of Mary, Freeman 19 (Tschida, Dropik), 6:10. 6, M2 University of Mary, Garrett 16 (Freeman), 16:30 (SH). 7, M2 Williston State College, Davis 16 (Jackson), 17:33 (PP). Penalties-Zaste Umary (hooking), 14:15; Eskro Umary (boarding), 15:44; Bailey Wsc (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:04; Eskro Umary (goalie interference, unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:04.
 
3rd Period-8, M2 University of Mary, Lenertz 2 (Dropik), 3:41. Penalties-Davis Wsc (hooking), 11:23; Dodds Wsc (elbowing), 20:00; Kuhn Wsc (roughing), 20:00.
 
Shots on Goal-M2 Williston State College 8-5-8-21. M2 University of Mary 18-16-18-52.
Power Play Opportunities-M2 Williston State College 1 / 3; M2 University of Mary 1 / 2.
Goalies-M2 Williston State College, Melin 3-11-1-0 (52 shots-46 saves). M2 University of Mary, Hayton 8-1-1-0 (21 shots-19 saves).
 
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