MANDAN, ND – In their final home game of the season, #1 University of Mary used an overwhelming second period to skate past visiting #11 Dakota College at Bottineau 7-1 to capture the first Dakota Cup title. The victory was the 12^th straight for a Marauders squad undefeated in 2022 and haven't been defeated by an American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 team since October.
 
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 30-4-1-2 this season.
 
UMary finished 3-0 in the Dakota Cup. Dakota College was 2-1. Williston State and the University of Jamestown skated to a 5-5 draw at the end of overtime with the Jimmies claiming the shootout on Sunday after both teams dropped their first two contests of the weekend.
 
UMary scoring leader Alex Flicek lit the lamp first with the lone goal of the first period. Controlling the puck in the right circle, Tanner Eskro fired a centering pass to Flicek in the slot for a one-timer into the net just 5:03 into the contest. It was the 20^th goal of the year for Flicek.
 
An avalanche of goals for the Marauders followed in period two. Derek Dropik started the scoring frenzy with a breakaway goal. Taking a feed from UMary goaltender Kyle Hayden in the Marauders defensive zone, Dropik skated the length of the ice, fended off a Lumberjacks, and jammed home a shot under the pads of Dakota College netminder Jordan Berschiminsky at 8:56 to double the home team's lead to 2-0.
 
Just 71 seconds later Andrew Heckaman followed with another goal for UMary.
 
The Marauders specialty unit closed the middle period with a flurry. Taking advantage of a pair of Lumberjacks penalties, UMary scored two power play goals in the final four minutes. Zach Garrett knocked home the first goal with a man advantage at 17:47. Garrett Freeman increased the Marauders lead to 5-0 on a power play goal with 53 seconds remaining in the second period. It was Freeman's 20^th goal, tying the first-year player with Flicek for the team lead.
 
The Lumberjacks finally solved Marauders All-American goaltender Kyle Hayden with a power play goal just 74 seconds into the final period. UMary ensured there would be no comeback by Dakota College by scoring two more goals. Joining Garrett, Heckaman, Marcus Kopp and Kyler Moore in playing their last home game, Marshall Tschida found the back of the net at 14:05. Freeman then scored the Marauders 3^rd power play goal at 17:59.
 
Johnny Witzke distributed four assists in the game to pace the Marauders attack. With two goals, Freeman now has 21 on the year to take over the team lead from Flicek. Garrett posted two assists on top of his goal. Heckaman had both a goal and an assist and Tanner Eskro registered two helpers.
 
Hayden finished with 23 saves in a game UMary held a 46-24 edge in shots.
 
Taking advantage of six penalties by the Lumberjacks, the Marauders turned half of their six power play opportunities into goals. Dakota College 1-for-3 on the power play.
 
The Marauders next visit the Lumberjacks on February 23 in Bottineau, ND.
 
M2 Dakota College-Bottineau 1 at M2 University of Mary 7 - Status: Final
Sunday, February 13, 2022 - Starion Sports Complex
 
M2 Dakota College-Bottineau 0 0 1 - 1
M2 University of Mary 1 4 2 - 7
 
1st Period-1, M2 University of Mary, Flicek 20 (Eskro), 5:03. Penalties-Patterson Dcb (tripping), 8:16; Garrett Umary (elbowing), 14:05.
 
2nd Period-2, M2 University of Mary, Dropik 6 (Hayden), 8:56. 3, M2 University of Mary, Heckaman 5 (Eskro, Witzke), 10:07. 4, M2 University of Mary, Garrett 17 (Heckaman, Witzke), 17:47 (PP). 5, M2 University of Mary, Freeman 20 (Witzke, Garrett), 19:03 (PP). Penalties-Patterson Dcb (checking from behind), 1:20; Rybchinski Dcb (interference), 13:24; Haberman Dcb (high sticking), 16:33; Hildebrand Dcb (cross checking), 18:12.
 
3rd Period-6, M2 Dakota College-Bottineau, Parisien 9 (Amsbaugh, Hildebrand), 1:14 (PP). 7, M2 University of Mary, Tschida 13 (Ohnstad), 14:05. 8, M2 University of Mary, Freeman 21 (Moore, Witzke), 17:59 (PP). Penalties-Hanson Umary (slashing), 0:00; Ohnstad Umary (cross checking), 0:00; Parisien Dcb (slashing), 16:20.
 
Shots on Goal-M2 Dakota College-Bottineau 10-5-9-24. M2 University of Mary 13-19-14-46.
Power Play Opportunities-M2 Dakota College-Bottineau 1 / 3; M2 University of Mary 3 / 6.
Goalies-M2 Dakota College-Bottineau, Berschiminsky 11-5-0-0 (32 shots-27 saves); Trulsen 3-3-1-0 (14 shots-12 saves). M2 University of Mary, Hayden 19-3-0-0 (24 shots-23 saves).
 
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