MANDAN, ND – In the final Midwest College Hockey game of the season,
Joe Gronholz and
Amraj Gill both found the net for the #11 University of Mary hockey team in an 8-2 home loss to #1 Minot State University.
UMary falls to 22-12-0-0-0-1 (W-L-OTL-T-SOW-SOL) overall and 19-12-0-0-0-1 against ACHA MD1 teams. UMary is also 6-6-0-0-0-0 in MCH play (2
nd place with 18 points) and 13-10-0-0-0-0 when playing nationally ranked teams. Minot State is 25-1-1-0-0-1 overall and owns 30 MCH points in 12 games (1
st of 7 teams).
The Marauders finish MCH play with 18 points in 12 games. UMary currently sits second in the standings with one more point than the University of Jamestown (17) and three more than Waldorf University (15). The Jimmies and the Warriors face off this weekend in their final two MCH games. With six points available, either or both teams could pull even or pass UMary in the standings. The final MCH standings will determine the MCH tournament bracket. The MCH tournament champion earns an automatic qualifying bid to the ACHA Men's Division 1 national tournament.
After claiming a 4-2 home win on Tuesday, Minot State started quickly on the road Wednesday, twice scoring in the first 5:17 of play.
Gronholz cut the deficit to 2-1 with a goal at 6:51, taking advantage of assists by
Alex Senf and Gill.
Not yet done, the Beavers scored two more times in the opening period to enter the first intermission with a 4-1 lead. A power play goal for the only score of the second period pushed Minot State's lead to 5-1 with 20 minutes left to play.
Entering the third period with 3:55 remaining on a major penalty by the Beavers, the Marauders came out of the second intermission buzzing around the Minot State net. After several near misses, Gill delivered a power play goal at 3:42 to close within 5-2.
UMary just missed on a couple more opportunities before Minot State scored another power play goal at 10:52 to seal the win.
Caleb Cross finished with 24 saves in the game for UMary and
Zane Clausen added another five. Will Dyke made 31 stops for Minot State.
UMary scored once in four power play opportunities while Minot State scored twice in four chances.
Gill led he Marauders with a goal and an assist.
UMary next hosts Waldorf on February 13-14 for senior weekend and the final games of he regular season.
MD1 Minot State University 8 at MD1 University of Mary 2 - Status: Final
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - Starion Sports Complex (ND)
MD1 Minot State University 4 1 3 - 8
MD1 University of Mary 1 0 1 - 2
1st Period-1, MD1 Minot State University, Egan 4 (Yakubowski), 2:34. 2, MD1 Minot State University, Moffatt 12 (Kadolph), 5:17. 3, MD1 University of Mary, Gronholz 14 (Senf, Gill), 6:51. 4, MD1 Minot State University, Dewar 2 (Yakubowski), 12:15. 5, MD1 Minot State University, Cyca 6 (Moffatt, Joseph), 14:23. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-6, MD1 Minot State University, Curtis 5 (Howard, Williams), 7:38 (PP). Penalties-Tschida M1umy (hooking), 5:36; Dropik M1umy (goalie interference), 6:48; Egan M1msu (hooking), 9:19; Stanick M1msu (major-elbowing), 18:55.
3rd Period-7, MD1 University of Mary, Gill 6 (Loahr, Flatley), 3:42 (PP). 8, MD1 Minot State University, Moffatt 13 (Yakubowski, Buchholz), 10:52 (PP). 9, MD1 Minot State University, Williams 1 (Clyne), 12:47. 10, MD1 Minot State University, Williams 2 19:50. Penalties-Buchholz M1msu (hooking), 2:44; Loahr M1umy (checking from behind), 10:47; Egan M1msu (cross checking), 15:38; Gill M1umy (tripping), 17:33.
Shots on Goal-MD1 Minot State University 16-11-10-37. MD1 University of Mary 9-12-12-33.
Power Play Opportunities-MD1 Minot State University 2 / 4; MD1 University of Mary 1 / 4.
Goalies-MD1 Minot State University, Dyke 16-1-1-1 (33 shots-31 saves). MD1 University of Mary, Cross 16-8-0-0 (31 shots-24 saves); Clausen 6-4-0-1 (6 shots-5 saves).
A-401
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