MINOT, N.D. – Relentless determination paid off for the Beavers on Friday night.
The Minot State men’s hockey team relentlessly pressured visiting in-state rival Mary, eventually breaking through and scoring a 3-1 win in the battle between ACHA champions.
Scoreless near the midway point of the contest, the Beavers (13-0-0 overall) broke through when Jay Buchholz set up Joey Moffatt with 8 minutes, 17 seconds gone in the second to take control.
Outshooting the Marauders (17-3-1) 31-11 through the first two periods, the Beavers managed just that one goal against Mary netminder Kyle Hayden.
One goal until Carter Barley gave the Beavers some welcome insurance scoring 1:24 into the third off a Davis Sheldon assist.
Minot State added one more, another goal by Moffatt, on the power play as Barley and Reid Arnold had assists, making it 3-0 with 8:28 left to play.
Mary got one goal back late in the third, spoiling a potential shutout for Jake Anthony who made 17 saves for the Beavers, the two-time ACHA Division I championships who are currently ranked No. 1 in the ACHA this season.
On the other end of the ice, Hayden finished with 41 saves for Mary, the two-time defending ACHA Division II champs, who host Minot State on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the second game in the home-and-home series.
