Prep Sports

Marquette Redmen survive late onslaught for another one-goal hockey victory at Kingsford, 2-1

IRON MOUNTAIN -- Kingsford's onslaught of scoring chances were stopped by the Marquette defense as the Redmen prevailed 2-1 in a high school hockey game played Tuesday night.

The Flivvers (4-3-1) failed to capitalize on a power play in the final minutes of the game, although they managed a handful of shots on net that came within inches of tying the game.

Marquette (6-4-1) has grown used to one-goal games, coach Doug Garrow said.

"We've struggled all year to score goals," Garrow said. "We're not a high-scoring team. A lot of our games are one-goal games. Three of our six wins were in overtime. The other three are one-goal games pretty much.

"I think we're used to it…. Sometimes it's nice to play that hockey because that's more of playoff hockey when it comes down to the end of the year."

Kingsford's power play late in the third came after Andrew Pieper's cross-check in front of the net with 2:53 to go.

At that point, Kingsford coach Jim Peterson called a timeout to remind his team not to panic and rely on setting up the power play that included a player screening Marquette goaltender Tyler Bergwall, who made key saves to secure the win.

"It was a close game. The shots were pretty even," Peterson said. "The second period they were winning the battles in the corner but we picked it up. We had our opportunities to tie the game."

With about 10 minutes to go in the third, Kingsford's Austin VanPembrook halved Marquette's lead with a shot that beat Bergwall on a 2-on-1 break.

Both teams played physical for the next seven minutes or so after VanPembrook's goal. Marquette became notably more physical near the puck and behind the play. Garrow took a timeout with about five minutes to go, reasoning it would calm the panic he sensed in his players.

"We started to get a little tight, gripped the sticks a little tight and started to panic and not have the patience we needed," Garrow said. "That comes to bite you in the butt a little bit. They got a goal late in the third, it was a 2-on-1 but I think our guy kind of fell down and created that 2-on-1 for them.

"I called that timeout just to try to settle our guys down. I just told them I didn't like the way we were playing."

Bergwall made 28 saves, including 14 in the third period.

Kingsford goalie Trevor Anderson made 34 saves, 14 coming in the second period.

In the first half of the game, Garrow liked the Redmen's forecheck and hustle. Kingsford then strung a couple shifts with strong forechecks and sustained pressure halfway through the second. Garrow said Marquette stopped winning battles for the puck.

The Redmen went up 2-0 in the first period with goals by Branden Campbell and Sean O'Connor. Campbell's goal was unassisted. O'Connor's was assisted by Colin Gaffney and Luke Beerman.

Garrow said the early advantage came off of an effective forecheck.

Marquette hosts Negaunee on Thursday.