MANDAN, ND – In a game of runs by two national powerhouses located just 118 miles apart, #11 University of Mary fell just short in a 5-4 loss to visiting #3 Minot State University to open a busy homecoming week slate of games for the Marauders.
 
The game featured three ties and three lead changes with the Marauders just missing on a couple late scoring opportunities in hopes of forcing overtime.
 
Minot State claimed an early lead 4:58 into the game before the Marauders scored a stunning goal at the midpoint of the first period to tie the game at one aside. With the Beavers on the attack, UMary's Liam Massie broke up the Minot State possession just inside the Marauders defensive blue line. David Loahr picked up the loose puck and raced to the other end of the rink unimpeded before releasing a shot atop the right circle. Using a Beavers defender as a screen, Loahr's shot beat MSU goalkeeper Jake Anthony glove side just inside the post at the 9:18 mark.
 
Minot State took another lead early in the second but once again UMary's Loahr tied the game. Taking a rink long outlet pass from Logan Lukasezck, Loahr beat the Minot State defender in the left circle to get into the crease and fire a shot under the goalies pads.
 
Moments later, another long breakout pass, this time from Dylan Cunningham, caught Joe Gromholz in stride at the far blue line. Keeping the Beavers defender on his hip, Gronholz slipped the puck past Anthony for a 3-2 lead with 8:49 to play in the period, forcing Minot State to call a time out.   
 
The Marauders flurry of goals continued as a long blast by Michael Heitkamp from the right point wended its way through traffic and into the net for a 4-2 lead. The goal was set up when Dylan Thompson won a faceoff in the left circle and pulled the puck back to Hunter Mangen, who quickly redirected the puck to Heitkamp for a slapshot off the pass.
 
The Beavers (3-2-0-0-0) responded with a goal 18 seconds before the end of the second period before tying the game with a power play goal 5:11 into the third period. Austin Clyne scored the game-winner for Minot State with just under nine minutes remaining in the game.
 
UMary (5-1-0-0-0) nearly found the equalizer a handful of times. Playing in front of  a packed house with a large contingent of UMary students and fans exhorting the home team to find a way to score, the Marauders were unable to find the back of the net.
 
Loahr was the lone UMary player with a pair of points in the game. Seven other Marauders had either a goal or an assist.
 
Marino Ramirez had 34 saves in the game while Anthony stopped 21 shots. The Beavers held a 39-25 edge in shots. Minot State finished the game 2-for-4 on the power play while UMary was unable to score on the man advantage in four attempts.
 
The Marauders continue their homecoming week home stand with a pair of games against Northern Illinois on Saturday and Sunday, October 4-5. Game time is 7 pm Saturday and 2 pm Sunday at the Starion Sports Center Schwan Cadillac Rink in Mandan, ND.
 
#3 Minot State University 5 at #11 University of Mary 4 - Status: Final
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - Starion Sports Complex (ND)
 
MD1 Minot State University 2 1 2 - 5
MD1 University of Mary 1 3 0 - 4
 
1st Period-1, MD1 Minot State University, Moffatt 2 (Curtis, Joseph), 4:58 (PP). 2, MD1 University of Mary, Loahr 2 (Medeiros), 9:18. 3, MD1 Minot State University, Tataryn 1 (Pederson), 16:08. Penalties-Heitkamp M1umy (checking from behind), 3:14; Krywy M1msu (slashing), 5:12.
 
2nd Period-4, MD1 University of Mary, Loahr 3 (Lukasezck), 7:04. 5, MD1 University of Mary, Gronholz 4 (Cunningham), 8:53. 6, MD1 University of Mary, Heitkamp 2 (Thompson, Mangan), 14:24. 7, MD1 Minot State University, Arnold 2 (Buchholz, Pawluk), 19:42. Penalties-Egan M1msu (roughing), 3:46; Tschida M1umy (checking from behind), 11:25.
 
3rd Period-8, MD1 Minot State University, Joseph 2 (Henry, Moffatt), 5:11 (PP). 9, MD1 Minot State University, Clyne 1 (Pederson), 11:03. Penalties-Orr M1umy (tripping), 3:24; Tataryn M1msu (cross checking), 7:27; Heitkamp M1umy (checking from behind), 12:36; Moffatt M1msu (hooking), 14:27.
 
Shots on Goal-MD1 Minot State University 9-20-10-39. MD1 University of Mary 8-11-6-25.
Power Play Opportunities-MD1 Minot State University 2 / 4; MD1 University of Mary 0 / 4.
Goalies-MD1 Minot State University, Anthony 2-0-0-0 (25 shots-21 saves). MD1 University of Mary, Ramirez 4-1-0-0 (39 shots-34 saves).
A-831
 
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