From UMary Athletics
By Brian Larson
MANDAN, ND – Forced to overcome a two-goal deficit, the University of Mary battled back to down Minot State University 3-2 to earn the program’s first ever win over the Beavers. Riley Scanlon scored with 3:16 left in the game to give the Marauders the victory in the 14th meeting between the two top teams in the two top divisions of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
The Marauders, ranked first in ACHA Men’s Division 2 and the two-time defending national champion, handed the top-ranked ACHA M1 Beavers their first loss of the season. UMary improves to 18-3-1 on the season. MSU slips to 13-1.
Entering tonight, the Beavers had captured 11 wins and two ties in the series with the Marauders.
Minot State came out on fire as Davis Sheldon scored on the first shot of the game just 17 seconds into the contest. Drew Carter doubled the Beavers lead at 10:52.
The Marauders turned to their all-time leading scorer to reverse the tide. All-American Alex Flicek found the net at 8:20 of the second to cut UMary’s deficit to 2-1 with Isaiah Thomas and Caleb Petrie providing the helpers. The Flicek counter unleashed a flood of stuffed animals thrown onto the ice by fans in the annual teddy bear toss game as the momentum swerved abruptly to the Marauders.
Minutes later Thomas buried the puck to pull the Marauders even at 2-2. Teddy Lillico and Flicek had assists on the goal at 12:46 of the second period.
With both teams skating hard for the win, the Marauders just missed taking the lead with a little over four minutes left in the game when a shot clanked off the post.
Taking advantage of a Beavers penalty, Scanlon gave the Marauders their first lead of the night on a power play goal at 16:44, igniting a wild celebration in the stands and on the ice. Once again Thomas was front and center in the scoring as he and Jaren Hugelen provided the assists.
Conan Hayton and the Marauders defense then took center stage and withstood a furious attack by the Beavers in search for the equalizer. Minot State appeared to tie the game with five seconds remaining but the goal was disallowed for a hand pass.
Thomas finished the night with three points, picking up a goal and two assists. Flicek had a goal and an assist.
Stellar in net while leading the Marauders to the win, Hayton finished with 35 saves. Under impressive pressure as the game progressed, he totaled 30 saves in the final two periods. Jake Anthony finished with 22 saves for Minot State.
UMary next hosts Williston State College on Wednesday, December 7, in the final home game of 2022 for the Marauders. Game time is 7 pm at the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink.
(Originally published at https://goumary.com/news/2022/12/3/hockey-late-goal-by-scanlon-completes-marauders-rally-in-3-2-win-over-beavers.aspx)
