MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO – Riding a dominant first period and strong performances on both ends of the ice, #14 University of Mary downed #19 University of Pittsburgh 4-0 to open the 2025 American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division I National Hockey Tournament.
Joe Gronholz tallied twice and
Caleb Cross turned away all 29 shots he faced from Pitt to open the single elimination tournament.
The Marauders now move on to the second round of the ACHA MD1 tournament and will face #3 Ohio University at 1 pm on Friday, March 14, at the Centene Community Ice Center. The Bobcats earned a first round bye. This will be the first meeting between UMary and Ohio.
The Marauders remain perfect in the opening round of ACHA national tournaments. This is UMary's sixth national tournament and the sixth time the Marauders have opened with a win. UMary head coach Dan Huntley has led the Marauders to a record of 14-1-1-0-0-0 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL) in ACHA tournament games.
UMary improves to 23-14-0-0-0-0 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL) overall and 22-14-0-0-0-0 in ACHA MD1 play. Pitt concludes the season 14-12-3-0-2-2.
The Marauders started fast and stayed hot, scoring twice in the open period and outshooting Pitt 24-8.
Dylan Cunningham, the Marauders assist leader on the season, scored the opening goal of the game at 11:54 of the first period when the first-year defenseman scored a power play goal. Picking up a loose puck in the crease, Cunningham flipped a backhand into an open net to get the Marauders on the scoreboard.
Just before the period expired
Crae Dawson, another first-year skater for UMary, scored with 37 seconds remaining before the first intermission. Taking the puck at his own blue line, Dawson led the Marauders rush down the ice and delivered a backhand from the right of the goal into the net.
UMary delivered another stunner just 40 seconds into the second when Gronholz found the net for the first time to boost the Marauders lead to 3-0. Despite Pitt outshooting UMary 13-8 in the middle stanza, the Marauders took a 3-0 advantage into the final 20 minutes.
Gronholz, the Midwest College Hockey Rookie of the Year, wrapped up the scoring at 7:27 of the final period of his first ACHA national tournament game.
Jake Murray joined Gronholz with a 2-point game, dishing out a pair of assists. Overall nine Marauders finished with a goal or an assist.
Cross held Pitt at bay all day. He had eight saves in both the first and third periods in addition to 13 stops in the second.
Both teams had a pair of power play opportunities with the Marauders scoring the lone goal with a man advantage.
#19 University of Pittsburgh 0 at #14 University of Mary 4 - Status: Unofficial Final
Thursday, March 13, 2025 - NHL Arena-CCIC
#19 University of Pittsburgh 0 0 0 - 0
#14 University of Mary 2 1 1 - 4
1st Period-1, MD1 University of Mary, Cunningham 1 (Murray, Loahr), 11:54 (PP). 2, MD1 University of Mary, Dawson 1 (Mangan, Murray), 19:23. Penalties-Tomak M1pit (tripping), 6:22; served by Harteck M1pit (bench minor-too many men), 10:04; Heitkamp M1umy (hooking), 12:26.
2nd Period-3, MD1 University of Mary, Gronholz 1 (Senf, Dropik), 0:40. Penalties-Dropik M1umy (major-cross checking), 7:51.
3rd Period-4, MD1 University of Mary, Gronholz 2 (Scribner), 7:27. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-MD1 University of Pittsburgh 8-13-8-29. MD1 University of Mary 24-8-8-40.
Power Play Opportunities-MD1 University of Pittsburgh 0 / 2; MD1 University of Mary 1 / 2.
Goalies-MD1 University of Pittsburgh, Lindsay (40 shots-36 saves). MD1 University of Mary, Cross (29 shots-29 saves).
#marauders#
