Semifinal #2 kicked off with a healthy dose of the disdain Concordia University WI and Marian University have for one another as interstate rivals. Up and down the ice they went with each play full of physicality. It would culminate with a CUW penalty at 10:58. While on the powerplay, Blake Stafford picked up the loose puck at it was heading out of the Marian offensive zone and toe dragged around a CUW defender, releasing a snipper into the upper corner to give Marian a 1-0 lead. The hits kept coming but neither team was able to score the remainder of the period.

 

One minute into period two, Marian’s Anthony O’Neal induced CUW to commit a holding penalty as he entered their defensive zone. However, Marian could not convert the man advantage and stayed up one. CUW would then get their first opportunity on the powerplay at 4:35 and fare better. Marian goaltender Tyler McArthur misplayed a glove save and the puck bounced to a waiting Andrew Malek, tying the game at one apiece at 5:22. Penalties would mar the next 10 minutes. But then, at 14:31, Cayden Frenette tipped a low Logan Graf shot from the point under Austin Bartell to put Marian up 2-1. The lead would be short-lived as with 1:06 before the second intermission CUW scored to pull even once again. Scoring his second fortuitous goal of the game was Malek, off an assist by Robby White.

 

CUW hit the ice for the third period with a distinct energy advantage. But it was all for nought as it did not translate into any goals. Then, at 5:26 O’Neal picked up a loose puck by the left dot and gave Marian a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish the remainder of the game. Scoring concluded at 19:19 with an empty net goal by Frenette. With the 4-2 victory, Marian earned a rematch of last year’s Championship Game with Purdue University Northwest.