Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University played host to McKendree University in its regular-season home finale this weekend. The Warriors earned a split the Bearcats, taking the Friday opener, 5-3, before falling on Saturday afternoon, 4-1.
FRIDAY: Midland 5, McKendree 3
It was an evenly-matched battle of conference foes on the ice on Friday night. A quick goal by McKendree in the opening minute put them in front 1-0 with less than a minute gone by. At the 2:22 mark, Midland answered back with a goal from Fletcher Chun. Logan Wotton and Jared Wisely assisted on the goal. The defenses would hold true the remainder of the period as the teams went to the dressing rooms even at 1-1.
Just under three minutes into the second, the Warriors took their first lead of the night as Chun scored his second of the game. Wisely was there again with the assist at the 2:49 mark.
Exactly two minutes later, McKendree found the equalizer, and the teams played the rest of the period event.
In the final frame, Midland edged ahead once more. Zach Weber got the puck into the back of the net off assists by Jack Royer and Nick Novak just over three minutes in. The Bearcats clawed back again, scoring at the 7:15 mark, setting up an exciting final 10 minutes.
With 6:25 to go in the period, the Warriors got a breakout goal by Kamden Sengheiser off a pass from Trevor Timm. Less than a minute later, it was Zach Eddington scoring on a quick play through the zone off a pass from Chun and Wotton.
McKendree tried their best to make up the deficit, playing with an empty net over the final 2:10. The extra attacker didn’t pay off as Midland came away with the 5-3 win.
Nahuel Veyan played well in net, collecting 23 saves and the victory. His counterpart had 28 stops on the night but allowed the five Warrior goals.
SATURDAY: McKendree 4, Midland 1
Things looked to be following the same script on Saturday as the teams each scored a goal in the opening period. Midland struck first with a goal from Fletcher Chun, his third of the weekend, off an assist from Jack Royer four minutes in.
McKendree answered with a goal of their own at the 14 minute mark and the teams went into the intermission tied yet again.
After the break, things seemed to be even with both defenses standing tall. With just over two minutes to go in the period, the Bearcats caught a break and scored to go up 2-1
In the third, they would get another goal in the early stages. With the two-goal lead, McKendree played strong in their defensive zone. Their goalie was solid in the net with a dozen saves in the final period, securing the series split. For good measure, an empty-net goal was captured as the Bearcats spoiled Senior Day with a 4-1 win.
Nahuel Veyan had 34 saves for the Warriors in 57 minutes of action. McKendree’s goalie corralled 42 saves on the day as the Warriors outshot their guests, 43-38.
Midland (6-22) will wrap up the regular season on the road next weekend at Waldorf (13-16). The Warriors and Warriors will take the ice in Albert Lea, Minnesota at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
