Warriors Split Series at Waldorf
ALBERT LEA, Minn. – As the first-semester schedule starts to wind down, Midland University traveled to take on Waldorf University this weekend. The Warriors earned a split, winning 5-2 on Friday night ahead of a 2-1 overtime loss on Saturday afternoon.
FRIDAY: Midland 5, Waldorf 2
The Warriors started fast on Friday with a goal in the opening minute from Zak Justice. Hugo Lukacovic found Justice for the game's first score 55 seconds after the initial puck drop. Just under eight minutes later, Logan Wotton netted a short-handed goal as the Warriors were killing a cross-checking minor. MU took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
In the second, Midland struck for its third goal. Wotton netted a powerplay score off a feed from Tommy Wardas and Justice at the 8:28 mark. A minute later, Waldorf broke through for its first goal at the 9:34 mark.
The scoring continued as Justice scored for his second time in the game at the 10:45 mark. Zach Eddington assisted with the insurance goal. Before the end of the period, Waldorf produced its second goal of the period and game. The Warriors led 4-2 after two periods.
Justice capped off a hat trick seven minutes into the final period. Wotton assisted on the score to make it 5-2. Neither team was able to add to their total over the final 13 minutes of the contest.
Liam Tereposky picked up 28 saves and the win in goal for Midland. The Warriors outshot their hosts, 34 to 30.
SATURDAY: Waldorf 2, Midland 1 (OT)
In the weekend finale, the first period produced nearly as many penalty minutes as shots on goal as the two teams battled. Midland was whistled for five minors for 10 minutes of penalty time while Waldorf had five minors for 10 minutes as well. The total shots for the first were 18 for MU and 7 for WU. The final shot from Waldorf of the period found its way into the net, giving them a 1-0 lead into the intermission.
As play settled in during the second period, Midland found the equalizing goal at the 9:35 mark. Zach Eddington scored on a feed from Logan Wotton. That's where the game stood after two periods of play.
In the final period, Midland was able to get a large number of shots up but the Waldorf goalie stood firm, keeping the game tied with 18 saves in the period. The Warriors' defense played spectacularly in front of Ondraj Patha, limiting Waldorf to just three shots on net in the third.
Sixty minutes was not enough as the teams went to overtime tied 1-1. In the extra session, it looked as if the defenses would stand firm once more. With three seconds on the clock, Waldorf snuck the winning goal into the net for the 2-1 win.
Patha was dealt the overtime loss, picking up 18 saves in net. Midland held a huge advantage in shots, putting 48 shots on net with just one goal though.
Midland (9-9-1-1) will close out the first-semester schedule next week with a road trip to take on No. 2 Minot State (16-4-0-0) on December 7-9. Game times are set for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Minot, North Dakota.