MANDAN, ND – A flurry of 3^rd period goals rallied #10 University of Mary to an upset of #1 Minot State University. The Marauders overcame a 2-goal deficit and scored the final three goals of the game to chop down the Beavers for the first time in five tries this season in a Highway 83 rivalry game.
 
The Marauders improve to 19-9-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOW-SOL) overall in their first season competing in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 1 after moving up a level. Minot State slips to 22-5-0.
 
This victory was UMary's first over Minot State with both schools competing at ACHA MD1. The Marauders also defeated the Beavers in December 2022 when Minot State was ranked #1 in the nation while UMary was #1 in ACHA MD2.
 
The win is also the 100^th victory at home for the Marauders. UMary is now 100-14-2-3-0-0 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL) all-time at home.
 
The Beavers opened the scoring with the lone goal of the 1^st period at the 9:25 mark. Minot State doubled its advantage at 11:52 of the second on a shorthanded goal by Reid Arnold following a defensive miscue by the Marauders.
 
Taking advantage of turnover by Minot State just outside the Beavers blueline forced by Isaiah Thomas, Teddy Lillco brought the Marauders crowd to life with a goal at 16:02. Taking a long shot from atop the slot t side of the right circle, Lillico found the top right corner of the net to close the Marauders to within a goal.
 
Luke Schleusner scored with four seconds left in the second period to draw the Marauders even. Taking a feed from Johnny Witzke, Schleusner fired a shot from the left side of the slot into the top left corner of the net.
 
A wild third period opened with a Beavers goal 87 seconds into the final stanza to give the visitors a quick 3-2 lead.
 
Andrew Huber wasted no time pulling UMary even. Taking advantage of a power play opportunity, Michael Heitkamp fired a long shot from the top right point. While Heitkamp's shot didn't penetrate the goal, Huber cleaned up the rebound in the crease and buried the puck inside the left post at 2:48.
 
After that early flurry, both goaltenders settled in and turned aside multiple shots over the next 13 minutes.
 
The Beavers just missed taking the lead at 15:05 when a shot hit off the left post and was coverup up.
 
The Marauders finally claimed the lead for the first time in the game on a dazzling Johnny Witzke goal at 16:33.
 
Leading a breakout from the defensive zone, Tanner Eskro fed Witzke the puck in the neutral zone and Witzke went to work. Despite four Minot State defenders converging on Witzke, the Marauders team captain created space and rifled a shot from the top of the slot into the top left of the net for a 4-3 UMary lead.
 
Eskro sealed the game with an empty net goal with 25 seconds on the clock.
 
Kyle Hayden was fabulous in net for the Marauders. The former ACHA MD2 Player of the Year finished with 35 saves in the game. Riley Wallace had 23 saves for the Beavers.
 
Eskro finished with a game-high three points on a goal and two assists. Witzke and Schleusner both had a goal and an assist and Thomas posted a pair of helpers.
 
The Marauders now embark on a weekend Midwest College Hockey 2-game series at Waldorf University on Friday and Saturday, January 26-27.
 
MD1 Minot State University 3 at MD1 University of Mary 5 - Status: Final
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Starion Sports Complex (ND)
 
MD1 Minot State University 1 1 1 - 3
MD1 University of Mary 0 2 3 - 5
 
1st Period-1, MD1 Minot State University, Barley 12 (Kadolph), 9:25. Penalties-Johnson M1msu (cross checking), 14:00; Freeman M1umy (slashing), 19:50.
 
2nd Period-2, MD1 Minot State University, Arnold 17   11:52 (SH). 3, MD1 University of Mary, Lillico 2 (Eskro, Thomas), 16:02. 4, MD1 University of Mary, Schleusner 6 (Witzke, Thomas), 19:56. Penalties-Buchholz M1msu (hooking), 10:16.
 
3rd Period-5, MD1 Minot State University, Buchholz 9 (Johnson), 1:27. 6, MD1 University of Mary, Huber 6 (Dropik, Heitkamp), 2:48 (PP). 7, MD1 University of Mary, Witzke 6 (Eskro), 16:33. 8, MD1 University of Mary, Eskro 12 (Schleusner), 19:35 (EN). Penalties-Johnson M1msu (tripping), 1:27; Howard M1msu (fighting-major- w/disqualification dq), 19:52; Hugelen M1umy (fighting-major- w/disqualification dq), 19:52.
 
Shots on Goal-MD1 Minot State University 14-10-14-38. MD1 University of Mary 10-8-10-28.
Power Play Opportunities-MD1 Minot State University 0 / 1; MD1 University of Mary 1 / 3.
Goalies-MD1 Minot State University, Wallace 9-2-0-0 (27 shots-23 saves). MD1 University of Mary, Hayden 6-6-0-1 (38 shots-35 saves).
A-502
 
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