By Cooper Schroeder · Following what has been a record book season for the Mavs, they were beaten in the Mid-American championship game as Dordt defeated them 2-0. Chester…
Following what has been a record book season for the Mavs, they were beaten in the Mid-American championship game as Dordt defeated them 2-0.
Chesterfield,Missouri - Monday morning gave us a hard fought, intense matchup as two of the top teams in the nation faced off in the MACHA Final. The first period was back and forth, and it became apparent early on that this would be a low scoring and grueling affair. The goaltenders, UNO’s Nahuel Veyan and DU’s Timothy Nanson were stopping everything that came their way.
The second was much of the same as the hits and saves continued to pile up for both sides. The teams were at a stalemate after forty minutes, even with such scoring stars as Blake Glaser for the Mavericks and Rylan Veenstra for the Defenders. The two aforementioned forwards being the top two individual point producers in all of Division 3 ACHA play for 2025-26. Although, it wasn’t for lack of trying by each of the players on both squads.
Heading into the third, still deadlocked, it was around three minutes into the frame when UNO and Dordt each received coincidental minor penalties. This brought the game into 4-on-4 action, with more open ice and more speed to be utilized. At 4:47, the Defenders would open the scoring as senior defenseman Zach Espenson found himself on an odd man rush with his teammate, sophomore Mason Spejcher carrying the puck into the zone. Finishing the sequence by sending a hard pass to the waiting Espenson who made no mistake and buried the feed for the 1-0 lead. The Mavs fired shot after shot at the Dordt net and just could not put one past Nanson. Eventually, with less than a minute to go, Spejcher would add a goal to his name as he raced toward the empty UNO net, giving his team the 2-0 lead. The Defenders would hold on and clinch the MACHA Silver conference trophy.
This one was a goalie duel to say the least. Nanson earned his 8th shutout of the season with 40 saves, while Veyan performed superbly with 36 saves on 37 shots faced. The game was what one would want to see in a final. Tight checking, tough to score, and goaltenders standing on their heads. Coach Nick Harrahill of UNO said of the game that it “was a true championship game. Absolute battle.” A battle indeed. An effort for the Mavericks that unfortunately came up short, but not without pride and honor.
Dordt clinched their spot for nationals in mid-March already with the victory. However, Omaha can still make the national tournament as well, pending the final rankings that are released March 2nd. Keep your fingers crossed, Mavs faithful.