ALBERT LEA, MN – A first period goal by
Joe Gronholz and a perfect night in net by
Caleb Cross earned the #11 University of Mary their second trip in three seasons to the Midwest College Hockey playoff championship game as the Marauders knocked off I-94 rival and #7 University of Jamestown 1-0.
A gritty defensive effort to contain a potent Jamestown attack earned UMary a spot in the MCH championship game against #1 Minot State University at 1 pm on Sunday, February 22. Minot State advanced to the title game with a 14-2 win over McKendree University.
Sunday's meeting will be the sixth of the season between the two rivals located 100 miles apart on Highway 83 with the victor claiming the Lindsay Cup and an automatic berth in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division I national tournament.
UMary improves to 26-12-0-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL) overall and 23-12-0-0-0-1 against ACHA MD1 teams. Jamestown is 23-13-1-0-1-0 overall.
The Marauders scored the only goal they needed just 8:12 into the game. With the puck ringing the boards behind the Jimmies net, Jamestown goaltender Brandon Weare played the puck and left it for a defender. Hustling to the end boards looking to make a play,
Alex Senf chased down the puck and took it away from a Jimmies defenseman. With a perfect view of his linemate, Senf fired a pass to Gronholz in the left circle as he charged towards the net. Left alone, Gronholz took the pass on his blade and a couple strides later the forward from Alexandria, MN, rifled a shot high nearside into the top left corner of the net. It was the 16
th goal of the season for Gronholz.
Cross and UMary's defense took control from there. Four times the Marauders skated off a Jimmies power play opportunity, including three in the second period that led to ten shots for Jamestown.
In the third, the Marauders limited the Jimmies to six total shots. Additionally Jamestown took two penalties in the final six minutes of play to give UMary an extra boost.
Cross stopped all 23 shots he faced in the game to earn his fourth shutout of the season. He turned aside seven shots in the first period, ten in the second and six in the third. Weare stopped 28 of UMary's 29 shots.
Both teams took four penalties and finished 0-for-4 on the power play.
MD1 University of Mary 1 at MD1 University of Jamestown 0 - Status: Final
Saturday, February 21, 2026 - Albert Lea City Arena (MN)
MD1 University of Mary 1 0 0 - 1
MD1 University of Jamestown 0 0 0 - 0
1st Period-1, MD1 University of Mary, Gronholz 16 (Senf, Flatley), 8:12. Penalties-Senf M1umy (cross checking), 14:58; Warrack M1uj (tripping), 19:16; Johnson M1uj (tripping), 19:53.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Tschida M1umy (holding), 7:48; Falconer M1umy (tripping), 13:28; Loahr M1umy (hooking), 19:10.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Johnson M1uj (interference), 14:15; Christensson M1uj (hooking), 18:10.
Shots on Goal-MD1 University of Mary 12-8-9-29. MD1 University of Jamestown 7-10-6-23.
Power Play Opportunities-MD1 University of Mary 0 / 0; MD1 University of Jamestown 0 / 0.
Goalies-MD1 University of Mary, Cross 20-8-0-0 (23 shots-23 saves). MD1 University of Jamestown, Weare 21-11-0-0 (29 shots-28 saves).
A-0
#marauders#
