ALBERT LEA, MN – A Derek Dropik goal broke a second-period tie to push #11 University of Mary into the Midwest College Hockey playoff semifinals. Seeded third, the Marauders ended the season for #7 seed Iowa State University with a 5-3 win over the Cyclones in the MCH quarterfinals.
 
The Marauders advance to the MCH semifinals and will face #2 seed University of Jamestown at 6 pm on Saturday, February 21, in the Albert Lea City Arena in Albert Lea, MN. The two North Dakota foes, separated by 100 miles on I-94, are very familiar with one another after battling five times already this season.
 
The Jimmies are ranked #7 in the latest ACHA MD1 poll and defeated #18 and 7^th seeded Midland University 2-1 in the opening game of the league playoffs. Host and #4 seed Waldorf University plays #5 seed McKendree University Friday night for the opportunity to play #1ranked and top seed Minot State University in the other MCH semifinal game on Saturday.  
 
The winner of the MCH playoffs earns the Lindsay Cup and an automatic berth in the ACHA MD1 national tournament. The MCH championship game will be played Sunday, February 22, at 1 pm.
 
UMary improves to 25-12-0-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL) overall and 22-12-0-0-0-1 against ACHA MD1 teams. Iowa State finishes the season 10-17-1-0-1-1 overall.
 
The Marauders broke onto the scoreboard early in the game. After winning the draw in its offensive zone, UMary defenseman Amraj Gill fired a long shot from the right point that was jammed home by Hunter Mangan for his 13^th goal this season.
 
The UMary advantage didn't last long as Iowa State slammed home the puck from the slot just outside the left circle a little over two minutes later.   
 
Taking advantage of a 2-on-1 breakout from their own end, John Lang led Isaac Flatley into the slot. Picking up the puck while skating backwards towards the net, Flatley continued his 360 degree spin-a-rama and rammed home the puck from just outside the top of the crease.
 
A power play opportunity provided the Marauders several good scoring looks but it was the Cyclones that nearly scored. Looking for a shorthanded goal to pull even, Iowa State gained a breakaway but UMary goaltender Caleb Cross came out of the net to cut down the angle and stoned the Iowa State skater on a long attempt.
 
Just a couple minutes later and with the penalty play opportunity recently expired, senior captain Liam Massie camped out on the left side of the goal and hammered home a pass from behind the net from Crae Dawson for a 3-1 lead at 15:43.
 
Refusing to fade away, Iowa State tallied on a long shot from the left point with 1:40 left in the first period to cut the UMary lead to 3-2 entering the first intermission.
 
The Cyclones kept attacking and quickly found the equalizer just 1:42 into the second period to tie the game on a second straight goal by Michael Mulkerrin.
 
A tremendous rush by Will Falconer generated the next goal by UMary. Picking up the puck just outside the Marauders defensive blue line, Falconer carried the puck unimpeded down the left boards. Cutting towards the net just below the left circle, Falconer slid the puck across the crease to Dropik, who was left unattended to the right of the goal. The UMary senior captain pounced on the puck and hammered it home into a wide-open right side of the net at 10:08. Dropik's sixth goal of the season gave UMary a 4-3 lead after two periods.
 
Looking to create some separation, the Marauders rang a pair of shots off the pipe just before the midpoint of the third period.
 
Holding tight to their one goal lead, the Marauders were forced to kill off a third straight power play opportunity for the Cyclones when UMary took a penalty at 11:14.
 
Dain Sardelli sealed the win on a goal with 1:54 remaining in the game, scoring unassisted from just in front of the net.
 
The Marauders defense proved stellar over the last half of the game and particularly in the third period. In addition to killing off four Iowa State power play the last two periods, the Marauders allowed just four shots in the third period.
 
Cross was once again strong in net, making 24 saves in the game with 10 in the first period and nine in the pivotal second. William Pinney made 37 stops in the game for the Cyclones.
 
MD1 Iowa State University 3 at MD1 University of Mary 5 - Status: Final
Friday, February 20, 2026 - Albert Lea City Arena (MN)
 
MD1 Iowa State University 2 1 0 - 3
MD1 University of Mary 3 1 1 - 5
 
1st Period-1, MD1 University of Mary, Mangan 13 (Gill, Dropik), 4:21. 2, MD1 Iowa State University, Harley 6 (Slaght, Kula), 6:27. 3, MD1 University of Mary, Flatley 12 (Lang, Sardelli), 9:25. 4, MD1 University of Mary, Massie 2 (Dawson, Sinclair), 15:43. 5, MD1 Iowa State University, Mulkerrin 6 (Pfannenstein, Kovarik), 18:20. Penalties-Mulkerrin M1isu (tripping), 12:52.
 
2nd Period-6, MD1 Iowa State University, Mulkerrin 7 (Kovarik, Pfannenstein), 1:42. 7, MD1 University of Mary, Dropik 6 (Falconer, Scribner), 10:08. Penalties-Dropik M1umy (tripping), 2:31; Mangan M1umy (interference), 4:37; Slaght M1isu (elbowing), 10:08.
 
3rd Period-8, MD1 University of Mary, Sardelli 19   18:06. Penalties-Flatley M1umy (checking from behind), 11:14; Loahr M1umy (hooking), 18:58; Kovarik M1isu (cross checking), 19:52; Gill M1umy (cross checking), 19:52.
 
Shots on Goal-MD1 Iowa State University 12-9-6-27. MD1 University of Mary 19-8-15-42.
Power Play Opportunities-MD1 Iowa State University 0 / 4; MD1 University of Mary 0 / 2.
Goalies-MD1 Iowa State University, Pinney 8-14-1-0 (42 shots-37 saves). MD1 University of Mary, Cross 19-8-0-0 (27 shots-24 saves).
A-0
 
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