MANDAN, ND - The Schwan Cadillac Rink hosted another competitive battle between the #1 University of Mary Marauders (32-5-1-1) and the Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjacks (7-19) Wednesday night. While the Jacks hung with the Marauders as the game went on, the Marauders sparked a hot start with a three-goal first period and clung to the lead throughout.
Johnny Witzke had a big performance with two goals and two assists.
Isaiah Thomas and
Caleb Petrie were also difference-makers, both finishing with a goal and two assists.
Alex Flicek added an assist and the game-winning goal in the second period.
The Marauders opened the scoring 8:55 into the first period with
Caleb Petrie pouncing on a rebound for his 13th goal of the season. The goal was set up by a hot shot from
Alex Flicek,
Johnny Witzke was also given an assist.
The captain
Johnny Witzke showed off his athleticism at the 16:55 mark, deking past Mason Matthew before burying a backhanded shot. Witzke's 14th goal on the season came unassisted off a steal in the Marauders zone while the Lumberjacks had a 5-4 man advantage.
Shortly thereafter,
Isaiah Thomas buried his 18th goal of the season with 0:38 remaining on another rebound opportunity. Petrie got his first assist of the game while Witzke dished his second. The Lumberjacks answered on the ensuing faceoff with Fabian Vik assisting Kole Fitzpatrick for the first DCB goal of the game with just 0:13 left on the clock. UMary led 3-1 after the first 20 minutes.
Matt Olson would get DCB within a goal scoring 6:26 into the second period, assisted by Zach Diehl and Brett Janssens. A cross-checking penalty would put the Marauders on the power play just over a minute later. At the 9:26 mark, the Marauders capitalized on the man advantage with
Isaiah Thomas centering a perfect pass to
Alex Flicek for a one-time goal, extending the lead 4-2.
Caleb Petrie also earned his second assist on what would become the game-winner.
Dakota College wasted little time creating more pressure in the third period, needing just 0:26 to score their third goal of the contest from Zach Diehl. The action was tight for the next 12 minutes until
Johnny Witzke dangled past a defender and rifled a shot to the upper right corner, netting his second goal of the night and 15th on the season.
Isaiah Thomas helped lead Witzke to the goal for his second assist of the evening, and
Conan Hayton was also awarded an assist.
The Marauders went on to win 5-3 over the Jacks for their tenth straight victory on their home ice.
Conan Hayton stopped 26 of 29 shots on goal for his 11th win on the season. The Marauders outshot the Jacks 48-29.
UP NEXT
UMary will have the weekend off before returning to the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, MO for the first time since winning their second straight ACHA M2 National Championship in March of 2022. The Marauders are set to take on Maryville University M1 on Thursday, February 9 before a two-game series against Lindenwood University on their home ice February 11-12.
M2 Dakota College-Bottineau 1 1 1 - 3
M2 University of Mary 3 1 1 - 5
1st Period-1, M2 University of Mary, Petrie 13 (Flicek, Witzke), 8:55. 2, M2 University of Mary, Witzke 14 16:55 (SH). 3, M2 University of Mary, Thomas 18 (Petrie, Witzke), 19:22. 4, M2 Dakota College-Bottineau, Fitzpatrick 1 (Vik), 19:47. Penalties-Eskro Umary (hooking), 15:05.
2nd Period-5, M2 Dakota College-Bottineau, Olson 7 (Diehl, Janssens), 6:26. 6, M2 University of Mary, Flicek 10 (Thomas, Petrie), 9:26 (PP). Penalties-Mullin Dcb (cross-checking), 7:40; Janssens Dcb (hooking), 13:12.
3rd Period-7, M2 Dakota College-Bottineau, Diehl 2 (Patterson), 0:26. 8, M2 University of Mary, Witzke 15 (Thomas, Hayton), 12:47. Penalties-Kjorstad Dcb (unsportsmanlike conduct/player to player minor), 11:31; Hugelen Umary (unsportsmanlike conduct/player to player minor), 11:31.
Shots on Goal-M2 Dakota College-Bottineau 12-9-8-29. M2 University of Mary 14-19-15-48.
Power Play Opportunities-M2 Dakota College-Bottineau 0 / 1; M2 University of Mary 1 / 2.
Goalies-M2 Dakota College-Bottineau, Matthew 6-12-0-0 (48 shots-43 saves). M2 University of Mary, Hayton 11-3-1-0 (29 shots-26 saves).
A-220
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