No. 25 Warriors Drop Highly-Contested Series with No. 2 Minot State

FREMONT, Neb. – No. 25 Midland University hosted No. 2-ranked Minot State for a weekend series. The Warriors fell 4-2 on Friday but battled back from a 3-0 deficit on Saturday to force overtime, ultimately falling 4-3. 

FRIDAY: Minot State 4, Midland 2

After a scoreless first period, Tommy Babb put the Warriors on the board first with an unassisted goal at the 3:15 mark of the second period. Shortly after, the Beavers responded with a goal at 6:21 to tie the game 1-1.

Minot State applied pressure early in the third period, scoring just 52 seconds in to take a 2-1 lead. The Beavers added a power-play goal at 11:35 to extend their advantage, then scored again at even strength at 12:59 to make it 4-1. The Warriors answered at 13:56 with a goal by Karl Grafelman, assisted by Ethan Brown and Leo Milan, but couldn't close the gap. Minot State held on for the 4-2 win.

The Beavers held a slight edge in shots, 41-32. Liam Tereposky played the full 60 minutes, recording 37 saves.

SATURDAY: Minot State 4, Midland 3 (OT)

After another scoreless first period, the Beavers struck twice in the second, scoring at 12:03 and 17:23 to take a 2-0 lead.

Minot State extended its lead early in the third with a goal at 3:13 to make it 3-0. The Warriors battled back as Babb, assisted by Parker McInroy, scored at 4:03 to spark the comeback. Midland capitalized on back-to-back power plays, with Grafelman scoring at 12:22 (assisted by Brown and Babb) and Matthew O'Doherty adding another at 13:56 (assisted by Babb and McInroy) to tie the game 3-3 and send it to overtime.

The Beavers responded quickly, scoring just 17 seconds into the extra period to hand Midland a heartbreaking 4-3 loss.

Minot State outshot Midland 42-16. Tereposky played the full 60 minutes again, making 38 saves.

Midland (2-8) will travel to Springfield, Missouri, to face Drury (10-0) on Thursday, Oct. 31. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.