(Editor's note: University of Providence media release)
GREAT FALLS-- The University of Providence hockey team came up just short of a comeback attempt, falling to the University of Mary in their season opener Friday night 7-4.
The Argos got on the board first, after Liam Carvalho scored first off the assist from Levi Anderson with 10:11 left in the first period. However the Marauders responded in the second period with four goals after a series of turnovers from the Argos
"In the second we turned the puck over a lot," head coach Jeff Heimel said. "A lot of what happened to us with them scoring goals was on us. We just made easy easy easy mistakes."
The Marauders struck first in the third period as well, taking a commanding 5-1 lead with 11:30 left in the game. But the Argos weren't about to quit. The Argos scored three goals in a span of three minutes to cut the lead to one with 3:24 remaining. The Argos pulled their goalie with a little over two minutes left, resulting in two more Marauder goals to secure the 7-4 win.
"I liked how we finished," Heimel said. "We pulled the goalie and the possession changed fast both times. We've been on the receiving end of that being really good for us late in hockey games. We had all the momentum. The puck bounced the other way and the next thing you know the puck is bouncing back. I liked how we pushed it there at the end."
Despite the loss, Heimel said there was a lot of positives to take away, especially considering the team hadn't played a hockey match in 335 days.
"I think there were some spurts of good hockey," he said. "We started well. The energy for sure depleted throughout the hockey game. We could tell that we've been off for a little bit there. I would have liked to sustain our energy. We are winners. We're just a little off right now."
The Argos will get a chance for revenge against the Marauders tomorrow night. The puck will drop at 7:00 p.m.
