MANDAN, ND – Playing in front of a packed house in the 2023-24 home opener against the defending national champions,
Johnny Witzke and
Tanner Eskro both delivered a goal and an assist for #23 University of Mary in a hard-fought 5-3 loss to #1 Minot State University.
The contest against their Highway 83 rival was the Marauders first American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 1 home game.
Taking advantage of a fortuitous bonce, Minot State opened the scoring. Cleaning up a loose puck to the right of the goal, Troy Hamilton tapped home a goal at 2:47 of the opening period to give Minot State an early 1-0 lead. An unassisted goal with 40 seconds left sent the Beavers into the first intermission leading 2-0.
A second goal on the evening by Hamilton pushed the MSU advantage to 3-0 at 7:51 of the second.
A rocket fired by All-American
Johnny Witzke lit the lamp for UMary for the first time at 11:39. Skating on the power play, Witzke unleashed a shot from just inside the blue line that beat Minot State goalkeeper Riley Wallace on the glove side.
Just 66 seconds later Minot State scored again to take a 4-1 lead into the third period.
A high octane third period began with a
Derek Dropik goal at 3:16. Picking up the puck at center ice, Dropik carried the puck through the left circle, skated past a defender and unleased a low angle shot below the circle high stick side to close the gap to 4-2.
Minot State regained its 3-goal lead with just over eight minutes to play but UMary kept pushing. Just 32 seconds after the Beavers goal,
Tanner Eskro pounded home a rebound off a
Luke Schleusner shot to again close the gap to two at 5-3.
While the Marauders held a 14-12 advantage in shots in the 3
rd period, the Beavers finished the game with a 45-23 edge in shots.
Minot State was whistled for four infractions for 21 minutes while UMary was cited three times for 19 minutes. The Marauders scored the lone power play goal of the evening on two attempts. The Beavers only had one power play opportunity.
The Marauders five game home stand continues when UMary hosts Missouri State University on October 13-14.
MD1 Minot State University 5 at MD1 University of Mary 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, October 7, 2023 - Starion Sports Complex (ND)
MD1 Minot State University 2 2 1 - 5
MD1 University of Mary 0 1 2 - 3
1st Period-1, MD1 Minot State University, Hamilton 3 (Jerome), 2:47. 2, MD1 Minot State University, Krywy 1 19:20. Penalties-Hayton M1umy (roughing), 0:00; Moffatt M1msu (interference), 6:36; Kadolph M1msu (cross checking), 11:11; Buchholz M1msu (fighting-major- w/disqualification dq), 20:00; Howard M1msu (unsportsmanlike conduct/player to player minor), 20:00; Heitkamp M1umy (fighting-major- w/disqualification dq), 20:00.
2nd Period-3, MD1 Minot State University, Hamilton 4 (Kadolph), 7:51. 4, MD1 University of Mary, Witzke 2 (Thomas, Eskro), 11:39 (PP). 5, MD1 Minot State University, Barley 2 (Joseph, Hamilton), 12:45. Penalties-Lillico M1umy (hooking), 18:12.
3rd Period-6, MD1 University of Mary, Dropik 1 (Witzke, Lillico), 3:16. 7, MD1 Minot State University, Barley 3 (Joseph, Hamilton), 11:52. 8, MD1 University of Mary, Eskro 3 (Schleusner, Medeiros), 12:24. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-MD1 Minot State University 15-18-12-45. MD1 University of Mary 3-6-14-23.
Power Play Opportunities-MD1 Minot State University 0 / 1; MD1 University of Mary 1 / 2.
Goalies-MD1 Minot State University, Wallace 2-0-0-0 (23 shots-20 saves). MD1 University of Mary, Hayton 1-1-0-0 (45 shots-40 saves).
A-1,020
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