MANDAN, ND – With time rapidly running out in regulation, University of Mary forward
Isaiah Thomas ripped a shot into the back corner of the net to deliver a 6-5 victory over a stubborn University of Cincinnati squad.
Alex Flicek, who scored two goals and assisted on two others, provided the helper on the winning goal.
Despite Cincinnati overcame both 3-goal and 1-goal deficits to UMary in the first meeting between the two programs, the Marauders remained undefeated in five games in 2023 on the 12
th goal of the season for Thomas.
With Flicek possessing the puck atop the left circle, he identified Thomas working his way from the end line into the slot and delivered the puck on target. After fighting off a Bearcats defender to keep possession of the puck, Thomas kept easing his way towards the right circle before firing a laser against the grain past Cincinnati netminder Ian Cozby with 1:25 left in regulation. His fourth game-winner of the year ignited another boisterous celebration from a raucous home crowd.
UMary, ranked first in the nation and the reigning 2-time American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 champion, jumped out to a 4-goal lead. Flicek opened the scoring with a power play goal at 5:42 before adding an even strength goal at 11:01. Braden Zaeste found the net at 17:12 to give the Marauders a 3-0 lead at intermission.
The Marauders continued to pile the goals on the Bearcats when
Seth Cushing added a shorthanded goal just 1:59 into the second period for a 4-0 lead. But soon what seemed like another UMary rout turned into a taut game. The Bearcats scored three times in the second, including two by Steven Levasseur, and closed within 4-3 entering the third period.
Maximillian Williams found the equalizer for Cincinnati just 40 seconds into the final period.
Caleb Petrie regained the lead for the Marauders with another UMary shorthanded goal at 5:39. Refusing to fade away in front of a packed house for the Marauders, Williams tied the game for a second time at 14:38 to set up a dramatic ending for Thomas and UMary.
The Marauders doubled the Bearcats in shots 52-26. UMary also committed twice as many penalties as the Marauders were called for six infractions for 12 minutes, providing the Bearcats five power plays. UMary had two opportunities with a man advantage.
The Bearcats equaled the most goals the Marauders have allowed in a game this season.
UMary (25-4-1) and Cincinnati (7-14) wrap up the 2-game weekend series at 2 pm on Sunday, January 15.
M2 University of Cincinnati 5 at M2 University of Mary 6 - Status: Final
Saturday, January 14, 2023 - Starion Sports Complex (ND)
M2 University of Cincinnati 0 3 2 - 5
M2 University of Mary 3 1 2 - 6
1st Period-1, M2 University of Mary, Flicek 6 (Witzke, Petrie), 5:42 (PP). 2, M2 University of Mary, Flicek 7 (Thomas), 11:01. 3, M2 University of Mary, Zaste 1 (Kruse, Lenertz), 17:12. Penalties-Booth Ucinn (tripping), 5:30; Eskro Umary (roughing), 13:41.
2nd Period-4, M2 University of Mary, Cushing 16 (Flicek, Lenertz), 1:59 (SH). 5, M2 University of Cincinnati, Levasseur 5 (Beebe, Aidun), 5:30. 6, M2 University of Cincinnati, Levasseur 6 (Booth, Zimmerer), 16:44 (PP). 7, M2 University of Cincinnati, Lemmink 6 (Rajecki), 17:00. Penalties-Petrie Umary (hooking), 0:42; Lammlein Ucinn (roughing), 12:01; Cushing Umary (roughing), 12:01; Huber Umary (interference), 15:10.
3rd Period-8, M2 University of Cincinnati, Williams 3 (Aidun), 0:40. 9, M2 University of Mary, Petrie 9 (Witzke), 5:39 (SH). 10, M2 University of Cincinnati, Williams 4 (Beebe, Aidun), 14:38. 11, M2 University of Mary, Thomas 12 (Flicek, Petrie), 18:35. Penalties-Huber Umary (slashing), 2:48; Lillico Umary (interference), 5:11; Guptill Ucinn (elbowing), 9:30.
Shots on Goal-M2 University of Cincinnati 7-9-10-26. M2 University of Mary 18-15-19-52.
Power Play Opportunities-M2 University of Cincinnati 1 / 5; M2 University of Mary 1 / 2.
Goalies-M2 University of Cincinnati, Cozby 6-11-0-0 (52 shots-46 saves). M2 University of Mary, Hayton 10-2-0-0 (26 shots-21 saves).
A-975
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