MANDAN, ND – A weekend sweep of the University of Mary's closest regional rival reinforced the Marauders standing as not only the top team in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 West region but also the nation. The top-ranked Marauders downed 3^rd ranked Montana State University 4-2 in front of another impressive crowd on Saturday night. Behind a four-assist game by Alex Flicek and a goal and two assists by Isaiah Thomas, the Marauders defeated the Bobcats by two-goal margins on back-to-back nights.
 
UMary, the 2-time defending ACHA M2 national champions, improves to 31-5-1-1 (w-l-t-otl) this season, including a 23-3-1 mark against ACHA M2 teams. MSU slips to 21-7. This was the Marauders third straight win over the Bobcats this season, who are ranked second in the West region.  
 
Down a goal after Montana State tallied first just 6:13 into the game, UMary needed just 93 seconds to find the equalizer.
 
On his knees to the right of the net, Thomas played a puck back into the slot for a quick shot by Alex Flicek. Jorgen Johnson made the save on the initial shot for the Bobcats but Caleb Petrie gobbled up the rebound in the crease and jammed home his 12^th goal of the season into the right side of the net.
 
Skating four aside after each team was called for minor penalties just 25 seconds apart, Johnny Witzke took advantage of the extra ice. Picking up the puck off a feed from Thomas as he crossed the blue line, the All-American defenseman deked a Bobcats defender at the left dot before firing a low-angle shot into the net at 11:41 for a 2-1 UMary lead.
 
Skating shorthanded late in the period, the Marauders tacked on one more goal to enter intermission with a 3-1 lead. Flicek won a draw in the right circle and sent the puck directly to Seth Cushing atop the slot. A lightning quick one-timer by Cushing blew past Johnson with 1:50 left in the opening period for his team-leading 17^th goal of the season and 120^th of his career.
 
After the Bobcats scored the only goal of the second period, the Marauders regained their 2-goal advantage early in the third. Picking up the puck at center ice with a single defenseman in his way, Thomas steamed down ice and walked around the Bobcat defender before lifting a shot high into the net from just outside the crease for a 4-2 UMary lead just 4:01 into the final period.
 
Reigning ACHA D2 Player of the Year Kyle Hayden had another strong night in net for the Marauders. One night after posting his 11^th shutout of the season, Hayden stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced in the game. Johnson, under constant pressure all game, made 44 stops.
 
The penalty kill units for both teams had strong nights. Both sides had six power play opportunities but neither team scored with a man advantage.
 
The Marauders wrap up a 3-game home stand with a visit from Dakota College at Bottineau on Wednesday, February 1. Face off is set for 7 pm at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink.
 
M2 Montana State University 2 at M2 University of Mary 4 - Status: Final
Saturday, January 28, 2023 - Starion Sports Complex (ND)
 
M2 Montana State University 1 1 0 - 2
M2 University of Mary 3 0 1 - 4
 
1st Period-1, M2 Montana State University, Lane 17 (Farina, Klem), 6:13. 2, M2 University of Mary, Petrie 12 (Thomas, Flicek), 7:47. 3, M2 University of Mary, Witzke 13 (Thomas, Flicek), 11:41. 4, M2 University of Mary, Cushing 17 (Flicek), 18:10 (SH). Penalties-Juergensen Monsu (hooking), 10:05; Huber Umary (cross checking), 10:30; Larese Monsu (holding), 13:20; Huber Umary (roughing), 16:56; Street Monsu (interference), 19:54; Alford Monsu (roughing), 20:00; Petrie Umary (roughing), 20:00.
 
2nd Period-5, M2 Montana State University, Cherpeski 4 (Alford), 17:28. Penalties-Thomas Umary (tripping), 4:30; McKay Monsu (interference), 5:00; Medeiros Umary (tripping), 12:00; Scanlon Umary (slashing), 12:55; McAvoy Monsu (tripping), 18:19; Phelps Monsu (tripping), 19:27.
 
3rd Period-6, M2 University of Mary, Thomas 15 (Flicek), 4:01. Penalties-Nagurski Umary (high sticking), 5:53.
 
Shots on Goal-M2 Montana State University 10-10-7-27. M2 University of Mary 22-11-15-48.
Power Play Opportunities-M2 Montana State University 0 / 6; M2 University of Mary 0 / 6.
Goalies-M2 Montana State University, Johnson 16-6-0-0 (48 shots-44 saves). M2 University of Mary, Hayden 20-2-0-0 (27 shots-25 saves).
A-980
 
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