WELLS –Escanaba’s attempt at a comeback came up well short here Tuesday night in an 11-3 hockey loss to the Marquette Redmen.
After allowing seven goals in the first period, the Eskymos scored three in a row in the second.
A power play goal by sophomore forward Cale Carter brought them within 7-3 nearly 11 minutes into the second frame.
Senior forward Brayden Martineau and Carter found the back of the net within the first 42 seconds of the second stanza, bringing Esky within 7-2.
“We had a little talk between periods and the kids responded and played a great second period,” said Esky coach Andy Johnson. “We were undisciplined and running around in the first period. In the second period, we played good Eskymo hockey which was nice to see after the first period.”
Junior forward Nash Riipi scored from the low slot late in the second, giving the Redmen (2-2) an 8-3 cushion.
A penalty shot by senior forward Ethan Phillips made it 9-3 midway through the third before junior defenseman Tony DeMattia and Cale Carter went top shelf to seal the verdict on the mercy rule with three minutes, 41 seconds showing on the clock.
“We have to give Escanaba credit,” said Marquette coach Doug Garrow. “They played real hard and took it to us. I thought we played well in the first and third period. We got some lucky bounces in the first period. These are 15, 16 and 17-year-old kids and they sometimes forget how hard they had to work to get a big lead. I think the late goal in the second period was kind of a heartbreaker for them. That was a big momentum changer. They had us back on our heels for stretches in the second period.”
Junior forward Caleb Fries’ goal from the slot got Marquette on the board 8:01 into the contest.
Jacob Garrow’s rebound on a power play gave the Redmen a two-goal cushion and a rebound shot by Phillips extended their lead to 3-0.
Cale Carter, Jacob Garrow, Phillips and Riipi finished with two goals apiece for the Redmen, who visit Saginaw Heritage Friday.
Marquette freshman goaltender Parker Nevenhoven had 18 saves. Esky freshman Cully Hayes stopped 32 shots.
“After the first period we were helping Cully and picking guys up,” said Johnson. “If our shots were going in like they were in the second period, it would have had a way better outcome.”
The Eskymos (1-2), who were outshot 43-21, host Painesdale Jeffers Friday at 7 p.m. at the Hannahville Ice & Turf Complex.
Marquette 7 1 3 — 11
Escanaba 0 3 0 — 3
Scoring plays:
First period
M — Fries (Welch), 8:01
M — Garrow power play (Stade), 9:08
M — Phillips (Fries), 10:47
M — Riipi (Nemacheck, Carter), 11:24
M — Heikkila (Garrow), 13:20
M — Carter (Welch, Heikkila), 16:12
M — Garrow (Riipi, Carter), 16:58
Second period
E — Martineau (LaMarch, Boyce), :24
E — Carter (LaMarch), :42
E — Carter power play (unassisted), 10:59
M — Riipi (DeMattia, Garrow), 15:39
Third period
M — Phillips (unassisted), 9:46
M — DeMattia (Fries), 10:17
M — Carter (Riipi), 13:19
Shots on goal: Marquette 43, Escanaba 21
Goaltender saves: Marquette (Nevenhoven 18); Escanaba (Hayes 32)
Power plays: Marquette 1-4, Escanaba 1-4.
