JAMESTOWN, ND – Despite a fast start and a clutch goal late in regulation, the University of Mary hockey team's hope for a season sweep of the University of Jamestown was dashed in a 5-4 overtime loss to the homestanding Jimmies.
Ranked #1 in American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 and the two-time defending national champion, the Marauders slip to 29-5-1. The Jimmies, ranked 8
th in ACHA M1, considered the contest an exhibition game. UMary won 5-1 last Wednesday as the two teams split their season series.
Next season the Marauders move up a level to ACHA M1 and will join the Jimmies as a member of Midwest College Hockey.
Cyril Nagurski opened the scoring on an end to end rush at 11:55 of the first period. Looking to dump the puck into the corner, a Jimmies defender deflected the puck back to Nagurski, who knocked home a shot from the slot to give UMary an early lead.
After the Jimmies evened the score, the Marauders tallied twice late in the period. Forcing a turnover at center ice,
Drew Lenertz fired a long shot from atop the left circle.
Isaiah Thomas pounced on a long rebound off a Brandon Weare save inside the right circle and fired a shot high into the net at 18:31 for his 14
th goal of the season.
Just 54 seconds later the Marauders pushed their lead to 3-1. On a give and go breakout from the UMary defensive zone,
Seth Cushing fed the puck back to
Johnny Witzke flying unimpeded down the ice. Releasing a shot from just below the left dot that settled in under the crossbar, Witzke scored with 35 seconds before intermission.
The Jimmies followed with three straight goals, scoring twice in the second before taking their first lead of the game at 4-3 just 16 seconds into the third period.
With time winding down in regulation,
Tanner Eskro weaved inside the Jimmies blue line from the left boards to the top of the slot before unleashing a withering shot that eluded Weare with 1:57 to play to force overtime.
Skating 3-on-3 in overtime, Weare turned aside a 2-on-1 break for the Marauders that turned into a full ice rush for the Jimmies.
Conan Hayton made an initial save but a long rebound was corralled by Andrew Clark high in the slot. Sidestepping one Marauders defender, Clark found the back of the net at 1:58 to give Jamestown the win.
Both teams fired 35 shots in the game. Hayton finished with 30 saves to 31 saves for Weare.
Witzke finished with a goal and an assist for UMary. Lenertz finished with two assists.
UMary finished 0-for-3 on the power play. Jamestown was 0-for-1 with a man advantage.
THIS WEEKEND
In the Marauders biggest series of the season, #1 UMary hosts #2 Montana State University in a pair of home games on Friday and Saturday, January 27-28. Face off between the Marauders and the Bobcats is set for 7 pm each night at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink in Mandan, ND.
M2 University of Mary 4 at M1 University of Jamestown 5 (OT) - Status: Final OT1
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 - Wilson Arena (ND)
M2 University of Mary 3 0 1 0 - 4
M1 University of Jamestown 1 2 1 1 - 5
1st Period-1, M2 University of Mary, Nagurski 4 11:55. 2, M1 University of Jamestown, Cline 5 (Wilson), 14:50. 3, M2 University of Mary, Thomas 14 (Lenertz, Witzke), 18:31. 4, M2 University of Mary, Witzke 12 (Cushing), 19:25. Penalties-Nagurski Umary (tripping), 4:16; Huber Umary (cross checking), 10:28; Berggren M1uj (slashing), 10:28; Freeman Umary (slashing), 14:52; Fortin M1uj (slashing), 14:52.
2nd Period-5, M1 University of Jamestown, Venne 12 (Baranesky), 4:26. 6, M1 University of Jamestown, Baranesky 18 10:31. Penalties-Huber Umary (cross checking), 9:35; Fortin M1uj (cross checking), 9:35; Baranesky M1uj (cross checking), 10:31.
3rd Period-7, M1 University of Jamestown, Fortin 11 (Berggren, Huculak), 0:16. 8, M2 University of Mary, Eskro 12 (Massie, Lenertz), 18:03. Penalties-Popoff M1uj (delay of game), 4:04; Petrie Umary (roughing), 12:47; Wilson M1uj (roughing, roughing), 12:47.
1st OT Period-9, M1 University of Jamestown, Clark 5 (Venne), 1:58. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-M2 University of Mary 11-12-9-3-35. M1 University of Jamestown 14-8-11-2-35.
Power Play Opportunities-M2 University of Mary 0 / 3; M1 University of Jamestown 0 / 1.
Goalies-M2 University of Mary, Hayton 10-3-1-0 (35 shots-30 saves). M1 University of Jamestown, Weare 13-4-0-0 (35 shots-31 saves).
#marauders#
