SEASON OVER: NMU Hockey Loses In Minnesota

This story was written by NMU Sports Information. (NMU Photo)

MANKATO, Minn. - The NMU men's hockey teams' season came to an end in Mankato, dropping game two of the CCHA Quarterfinals 6-1.

The Wildcats jumped on the board early with Andre Ghantous stealing a pass and scoring on a short-handed breakaway, and the 'Cats had jump and early momentum to start the game.

But the Mavericks responded, jumping on loose pucks and capitalizing on odd-man rushes, and jumped to a 3-1 lead going into the third period. The 'Cats dominated the second period, but an 0/2 PP and Alex Tracy making crucial saves down the stretch held the deficit to two goals.

The Wildcats scored to make it 3-2 early in the third, but official review determined the play was offside and was called back. Moments later, Sam Morton scored, making the game 4-1 instead of 3-2. The Mavericks scored an empty net goal before another in garbage time, downing the 'Cats 6-1.

Andre Ghantous scored his ninth goal of the season on a short-handed tally, the team's fourth SHG this season
Ghantous skated in his 170th career game, tying Joe Nardi for most games played in program history
Michael Van Unen skated in his 150th career game
Beni Halasz made 17 saves
The 'Cats went 0/3 on the PP and 4/4 on the PK
Kristof Papp led all center-men with 17 wins
This marks the fourth* straight season the 'Cats have had their season end in Mankato (*2020-2021 WCHA Finals loss to LSSU was in Mankato due to COVID)

The 'Cats PK was tested early, and it countered with a chance of its own. Ghantous disrupted a pass and raced in on a breakaway, making a slick move to the backhand to slide the puck past Tracy to open the scoring.

The Mavs responded in the first, as Carrabes stole the puck in the corner and walked to the crease to stuff one past Halasz.

Seconds after a Mavericks goal is overturned by an offside review, Sam Morton capitalized on a Wildcat turnover inside their own blue line. He fired a shot through a defender's legs to generate a rebound, snuck past the defender to corral the rebound, and made a nifty move to the backhand to beat Halasz.

The Mavericks extended their lead to two goals with five minutes left in the second period, as Wilson stole a pass on the right halfway and streaked into the slot to fire a wrist shot past the stick hand of Halasz.

The Wildcats thought they scored three minutes into the period, but after further review it was determined that the play was offsides, bringing the goal off the board. Seconds later, the Maverick captain pick-pocketed an unsuspecting WIldcat defenseman and walked in on a mini breakaway, beating Halasz over the glove hand from the hash marks.

The Mavericks would score on the empty net with just under two minutes to go, then scoring on a deflection with 20 seconds left to seal the game at 6-1.