Warriors Drop Pair to Colorado State on the Road
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Midland University was back on the road this weekend as they traveled to take on Colorado State University in a two-game series. It was a rocky trip for the Warriors as they were swept by the Rams, 4-2 and 7-4. The losses drop Midland to 3-4 in the early going of the season.
FRIDAY: Colorado State 4, Midland 2
Each team netted a first-period goal on Friday night inside the Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC). Midland's came off the stick of Tommy Wardas at the 12:14 mark, tying the game at 1-1. Ryan Donovan and Jack Royer collected assists as the teams went into the intermission tied up.
In the second, CSU took advantage of Midland's penalty near the midway point and skated a 2-1 lead into the second break in play.
After the final intermission, the Warriors pulled even once more as Wardas and Jared Wisely found Zach Weber for the goal at the 3:15 mark of the third. Just over two minutes later, the Rams climbed back into the lead and then iced the game with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
On the night, the teams were fairly balanced on the shot chart. Midland put up 39 shots while CSU had 47. In goal, Liam Tereposky had 43 saves in the loss.
SATURDAY: Colorado State 7, Midland 4
In the weekend finale, the Rams scored 15 minutes into the first and took a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. They did so despite being outshot 20 to 13 in the first period.
After the break, CSU added to its lead with a powerplay goal just under two minutes in. Midland responded with its first goal, also via a powerplay chance, as Jack Olson found the back of the net off a feed from Logan Wotton.
Two more goals from the home squad gave them a little breathing room as the game moved past the halfway point. With 9:35 to go in the second, Ryan Donovan scored an unassisted goal to pull the Warriors closer, 4-2, as they headed to the final break.
In the third, Midland took advantage of a five-on-three powerplay. Milan Breczko scored just over three minutes into the period as Zach Weber and Zach Eddington assisted.
After another penalty by the Rams, Breczko took a pass from Jared Wisley for the equalizer with 13:42 to go.
Things remained knotted up until the final four minutes. That's when the Rams' offense found a gap and struck for three unanswered goals. The first came on a shorthanded chance while the final two were empty-net scores for the home squad as they closed out the 7-4 win.
Liam Tereposky was dealt the loss despite collecting 38 saves. His counterpart had 54 saves as Midland outshot CSU 58 to 45.
Up next for Midland (3-4) will be a road trip to take on the newest member of the Midwest College Hockey (MCH) league. They'll face the University of Mary next weekend up in Bismarck, North Dakota. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Schwan Cadillac Rink inside the Starion Sports Complex.