MINOT, N.D. – The only team to beat the Minot State men’s hockey team this season didn’t get the chance to make it two in a row.
The top-ranked Beavers scored early then dominated the third period, skating away from the University of Mary, 4-1 Saturday night, avenging a 3-2 loss in Bismarck back in December.
Sheldin Howard scored just 3 minutes, 46 seconds into the action off assists from Eric Soar and Christian Kadolph, giving the host Beavers (23-1-0 overall) an early lead.
It held up until moments into the second when Tanner Eskro tied it with a power-play goal for the Marauders, but then it was all Minot State.
Answering on the power play with 8:03 left in the second, Carter Barley scored his first of the night off assists from Howard and Joey Moffatt, giving the Beavers a 2-1 lead.
Barley’s first of the night proved to be the game-winner as Minot State dominated the third, stretching its lead on a goal by Jay Buchholz midway through the final period, then Barley iced the win with his second of the game with 1:03 left to play.
Moffatt and Howard assisted on Buchholz’s goal, and Soar and Reid Arnold had the assists on Barley’s second of the night.
Jake Anthony earned the win in goal, making 20 saves for Minot State, which outshot the Marauders 49-21 in the contest.
The Beavers get little time to celebrate the victory, though, as they return to the ice to host Dakota College of Bottineau on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Maysa Arena.
