MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO – University of Mary hopes for both a regular season and weekend sweep of Lindenwood University were dashed by a pair of Lions power play goals in the second period as the home team edged past the Marauders 3-2 in a meeting between the two top-ranked teams in the country.
The Marauders are #1 in the most recent American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 2 rankings while the Lions are #2. The 2-time defending national champion Marauders are 34-6-1-1 (W-L-OTL-T) on the season overall and 25-4-0-1 against fellow ACHA M2 teams. The Lions improve to 25-6.
This was the Lions 1
st win all-time against the Marauders. UMary leads the 8-game series 6-1-1 , including wins in the first three meetings this season. The Marauders defeated the Lions 1-0 on Saturday in the weekend opener.
The Lions opened the scoring late in the first period on a Jacob Behnen goal at 16:46.
The Marauders didn't wait long to pull even.
Tanner Eskro, who reached 100 career points earlier in the week, lit the lamp for the 14
th time this season with 1:45 on the clock to send UMary into the first intermission tied 1-1.
The Lions claimed control of the game in the second period, twice scoring power play goals to take a 3-1 lead. In the first 41 games of the season the Marauders had allowed only two power play goals.
Lindenwood finished 2-for-5 on the power play. UMary was 0-for-3.
The Marauders closed within 3-2 on a
Johnny Witzke goal at 7:44 of the 3
rd period, the 16
th counter of the season for the UMary defenseman. The Marauders were unable to come up the with equalizer.
Michael Errico posted 23 saves in the win for the Lions.
Kyle Hayden, who posted his 12
th shutout of the season in the series-opening win, had 37 saves for the Marauders.
Next up for the Marauders is UMary's final home game of the season. The Marauders host the Minot State University ACHA M1 squad on Saturday, February 18. Game time for Senior Night is 7 pm at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink in Mandan, ND.
M2 University of Mary 2 at M2 Lindenwood University 3 - Status: Final
Sunday, February 12, 2023 - Centene Community Ice Center (MO)
M2 University of Mary 1 0 1 - 2
M2 Lindenwood University 1 2 0 - 3
1st Period-1, M2 Lindenwood University, Behnen 5 (Radley, Linn), 16:46. 2, M2 University of Mary, Eskro 14 (Freeman, Cushing), 18:25. Penalties-Rischbieter Linm2 (tripping), 12:32; Avalone Linm2 (tripping), 14:17.
2nd Period-3, M2 Lindenwood University, Radley 18 (Linn, Avalone), 7:21 (PP). 4, M2 Lindenwood University, Carter 6 (Mullen, Errico), 11:29 (PP). Penalties-Nagurski Umary (tripping), 6:38; Nagurski Umary (interference), 9:35; Becker Linm2 (interference), 15:12.
3rd Period-5, M2 University of Mary, Witzke 16 (Thomas), 7:44. Penalties-Witzke Umary (slashing), 11:40; served by Massie Umary (too many men), 14:14; Eskro Umary (hooking), 15:07; Petrie Umary (roughing), 19:50; Avalone Linm2 (roughing), 19:50.
Shots on Goal-M2 University of Mary 8-7-10-25. M2 Lindenwood University 17-13-10-40.
Power Play Opportunities-M2 University of Mary 0 / 3; M2 Lindenwood University 2 / 5.
Goalies-M2 University of Mary, Hayden 23-3-0-0 (40 shots-37 saves). M2 Lindenwood University, Errico 14-1-0-0 (25 shots-23 saves).
#marauders#
