MANDAN, ND – A pair of early goals by Liam Massie and Tanner Eskro provided more than enough scoring for the #1 University of Mary men's hockey team in a 2-0 victory over #3 Montana State University. All-American Kyle Hayden added to his single season school record for shutouts as the Marauders picked up their second straight win of the season over the Bobcats as the top two teams in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 West region opened a 2-game weekend series.
 
UMary, the 2-time defending ACHA M2 national champions, improves to 30-5-1-1 (w-l-t-otl) this season, including a 22-3-1 mark against ACHA M2 teams. MSU slips to 21-6.  
 
With Marauders fans barely in their seats and Derek Dropik controlling the puck along the left boards, Dropik centered the puck into the slot to Liam Massie. Moving down the slot to set up his backhand, Massie lifted a shot into the upper left-hand corner of the net for a goal just two minutes into the game.
 
Barely over seven minutes later the Marauders struck again. Tanner Eskro claimed the puck atop the right circle of a pass from Cyril Nagurski. With defensive pressure slow to come his way, Eskro lowered his shoulder and drove towards the goal nearly unfettered. He unleashed a shot short-side into the upper reaches of the net to double the UMary lead to 2-0 at 9:13 of the first period. It was the last time UMary would find the back of the net against Montana State and goalkeeper Jorgen Johnson.
 
The 2-goal advantage was more than enough for Hayden and the Marauders defense. After turning aside seven shots in the first period, Hayden was forced to make 13 in the second and 14 in the third as the Bobcats turned up the pressure. Hayden stood tall in net and finished with 31 saves to pick up his 11^th shutout of the season and the Marauders 13^th total, both single season-records.
 
Johnson finished with 38 saves for the Bobcats.
 
The Marauders and the Bobcats, who ended UMary's 34-game unbeaten streak in the two team's first meeting of the season on October 29, wrap up the weekend with a 7 pm game on Saturday, January 28, at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink.
 
M2 Montana State University 0 at M2 University of Mary 2 - Status: Unofficial Final
Friday, January 27, 2023 - Starion Sports Complex (ND)
 
M2 Montana State University 0 0 0 - 0
M2 University of Mary 2 0 0 - 2
 
1st Period-1, M2 University of Mary, Massie 7 (Dropik, Huber), 2:00. 2, M2 University of Mary, Eskro 13 (Nagurski, Freeman), 9:13. Penalties-Davis Monsu (major-cross checking), 11:41.
 
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
 
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Larese Monsu (roughing), 4:20; Thomas Umary (abuse of official-misconduct), 5:38; Huber Umary (roughing), 8:38.
 
Shots on Goal-M2 Montana State University 7-13-14-34. M2 University of Mary 20-14-6-40.
Power Play Opportunities-M2 Montana State University 0 / 1; M2 University of Mary 0 / 2.
Goalies-M2 Montana State University, Johnson 16-5-0-0 (40 shots-38 saves). M2 University of Mary, Hayden 19-2-0-0 (34 shots-34 saves).
 
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