BLOOMINGTON, IL – While the result may not have been what the #23 University of Mary hockey team had hoped for in the Marauders American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Men's Division 1 and Midwest College Hockey debut, the Marauders looked right at home.
 
Playing #15 Illinois State University on the road, the Marauders outshot the Redbirds 50-34. Despite the disparity, the Marauders came up short in a 4-3 shootout loss. Illinois State connected on its first attempt in the 3-skated shootout but UMary was unable to solve Redbirds goaltender Brendon Donavan in three chances.
 
Cyril Nagurski, who enters his 6^th season with the 2-time ACHA M2 national champion Marauders, led UMary with a pair of goals.
 
The Marauders struck first when Tanner Eskro scored just 6:11 into the game off a feed from Luke Schleusner, playing his first game with UMary. The Redbirds needed just 21 seconds to even the score.
 
Illinois State took their first lead of the night early in the second before Nagurski knotted the contest 2-2 at 5:27 of the second, using an assist from Jacob Murray.
 
Specialty teams played a big role in the third period. A Mike Sliwinski goal with a man advantage again pushed the Redbirds in front with under five minutes in regulation.
 
With time winding down, Nagurski and the Marauders took advantage of a Redbirds miscue. Skating on a power play, Michael Heitkamp fired a long shot through traffic. Nagurski, parked right in front of Donavan, wasn't able to redirect the initial shot into the net but jammed home the equalizer with 1:49 remaining in the third period.
 
Despite outshooting the Redbirds 22-8 in the third period and 4-2 in overtime, the Marauders were unable to sneak anything else past Donovan, who held the Marauders out of the net in overtime and the shootout.
 
All-American Kyle Hayden had a big night in net for the Marauders, turning aside 31 of the 34 shots he faced. Donovan finished with 47 saves.
 
Both teams finished 1-for-4 on the power play.
 
UMary and Illinois State finish the weekend series with a 5 pm contest on Saturday, Sept. 30.
 
#23 University of Mary 3 at #15 Illinois State University 4 (SO) - Status: Final SO
Friday, September 29, 2023 - Grossinger Motors Arena (IL)
 
University of Mary 1 1 1 0 - 3
Illinois State University 1 1 1 0 - 4
 
1st Period-1, MD1 University of Mary, Eskro 1 (Schleusner), 6:11. 2, MD1 Illinois State University, Oberlag 4 (Tricarico), 6:32. Penalties-Heitkamp M1umy (hooking), 7:01.
 
2nd Period-3, MD1 Illinois State University, Zullo 1 (Sliwinski), 3:11. 4, MD1 University of Mary, Nagurski 1 (Murray), 5:27. Penalties-Massie M1umy (boarding), 6:05; Chesney M1ils (hooking, 10-minute misconduct), 12:27.
 
3rd Period-5, MD1 Illinois State University, Sliwinski 2 (Chesney, Natoli), 15:50 (PP). 6, MD1 University of Mary, Nagurski 2 (Heitkamp), 18:11 (PP). Penalties-Terch M1ils (high sticking), 2:00; Zorn M1ils (hooking), 7:25; Robinson M1umy (tripping), 11:04; Thomas M1umy (hooking), 14:32; Tricarico M1ils (interference), 16:24.
 
1st OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
 
Shootout - MD1 University of Mary 0 (Cushing NG, Witzke NG, Huber NG), MD1 Illinois State University 1 (Zullo G, Sliwinski NG).
Shots on Goal-MD1 University of Mary 8-16-22-4-0-50. MD1 Illinois State University 9-15-8-2-1-35.
Power Play Opportunities-MD1 University of Mary 1 / 4; MD1 Illinois State University 1 / 4.
Goalies-MD1 University of Mary, Hayden 0-0-0-1 (34 shots-31 saves). MD1 Illinois State University, Donovan 3-1-0-0 (50 shots-47 saves).
 
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