MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO – A tremendous season for the University of Mary hockey team ended in the second round of the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division 1 national tournament as the Marauders were edged 2-1 in a thriller that came down to the closing seconds.
The #10 seed Marauders wrapped up their first ACHA MD1 season with a record of 26-14-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOW-SOL) overall and a mark of 23-14-0-0-1 against ACHA MD1 foes. #7 seed Liberty University is 21-9-0-1.
UMary is now 13-2 all-time at ACHA national tournaments. The Marauders were 12-1 in three ACHA MD2 tournaments, including winning championships in 2021 and 2022. The Marauders moved up a level to ACHA MD1 this season and went 1-1 at nationals.
A scoreless first period didn't lack drama as both teams combined for five power play opportunities, including four for the Flames.
UMary had the first quality scoring opportunity less then three minutes into game. On a power play, a long shot atop the slot by
Michael Heitkamp was deflected in front of the Liberty net and was loose in the crease before the Flames cleared the puck.
The Flames were unable to take advantage of their power play opportunities, including a 5-on-3 chance lasting over a minute late in the first period after the Marauders were whistled for a bench minor that was soon followed by a charging call after
Derek Dropik collided with Flames goalkeeper Hunter Virostek on a shorthanded breakaway by the Marauders.
The Marauders just missed taking the lead with 11:30 left in the second period as
Luke Schleusner picked up a loose puck all alone in the slot and rifled a shot off the post.
Liberty finally found the net in the closing seconds of the second period. From the end line in the right corner, Jason Foltz fired a low angle shot that bounced off Matt Bartel in the crease and into the net for a 1-0 Liberty lead with 22 seconds left in the second period.
The Flames extended their advantage to 2-1 with 4:35 to play in the game when Liberty scored off a deflection at 15:35 for a power play goal credited to Jacob Kalandyk.
Isaiah Thomas got the Marauders on the board with 3:31 left to play. Taking a feed from
Johnny Witzke in the natural zone, Thomas skated into the top of the slot and fired a missile into the top right corner for his third goal in two games.
The Marauders nearly forced overtime. In the closing seconds, a long shot from just inside the blue line by
Teddy Lillico was deflected to the left of the net. Witzke unleashed a quick shot into what looked like an open net but was denied on a spectacular save by Virostek with ten seconds left in the game, ending a tremendous season for UMary.
Kyle Hayden was tremendous in net for the Marauders. In his final game of a storied career for UMary, Hayden turned aside 41 shots while facing five power play opportunities for the Flames. Virostek made 28 saves for Liberty.
MD1 University of Mary 1 at MD1 Liberty University 2 - Status: Final
Saturday, March 9, 2024 - Centene Community Ice Center (MO)
MD1 University of Mary 0 0 1 - 1
MD1 Liberty University 0 1 1 - 2
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Albers M1lib (interference), 2:34; Hugelen M1umy (boarding), 3:46; Heitkamp M1umy (cross checking), 7:01; Huber M1umy (roughing), 13:17; Feamster M1lib (roughing), 13:17; served by Bradshaw M1umy (bench minor-coach), 15:27; Dropik M1umy (charging), 16:18.
2nd Period-1, MD1 Liberty University, Bartel 1 (Foltz, Ottenbreit), 19:38. Penalties-No Penalties
3rd Period-2, MD1 Liberty University, Kalandyk 1 (Bite, Foltz), 15:25 (PP). 3, MD1 University of Mary, Thomas 3 (Witzke, Lillico), 16:29. Penalties-Eskro M1umy (cross checking), 14:11.
Shots on Goal-MD1 University of Mary 8-11-10-29. MD1 Liberty University 13-15-15-43.
Power Play Opportunities-MD1 University of Mary 0 / 1; MD1 Liberty University 1 / 5.
Goalies-MD1 University of Mary, Hayden (43 shots-41 saves). MD1 Liberty University, Virostek (29 shots-28 saves).
A-
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