Pioneers Battle Through Three-Game Homestand
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The Pioneers hosted a full three-game homestand that concluded with a 1–2 record, highlighted by a dominant Friday night victory and two hard-fought matchups against the New England Wolves.
The weekend began Friday, January 30, as the Pioneers welcomed the Chiefs to home ice and wasted no time setting the tone. At 8:09 of the first period, #13 Ward connected with #7 K. Matushak, who found #8 G. Matushak to open the scoring. The momentum continued moments later when #25 Bailey set up #3 Raskin, who fed #23 Schaentzler for a goal, giving the Pioneers a 2–0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The offensive surge continued in the second period. #24 Hughes connected with #3 Raskin, who once again found #23 Schaentzler for another goal. Four minutes later, the Matushak brothers teamed up when #7 K. Matushak found #8 G. Matushak, who set up #10 McCarron to extend the lead. The Pioneers kept pressing as #6 Huyber found #23 Schaentzler, who then set up #21 Fiore with 8:51 remaining in the period, bringing the score to 5–0.
In the third period, the Pioneers sealed the victory when #10 McCarron connected with the Matushak brothers once again, as #7 K. Matushak set up #8 G. Matushak for the final goal in a commanding 6–0 win. In net, #1 Murat Shiyanov delivered a flawless performance, recording 35 saves for a shutout and a perfect 1.000 save percentage.
Saturday night marked the Pioneers’ first matchup of the season against the New England Wolves. Early in the first period, #10 McCarron connected with #18 Jarvis, who found #3 Raskin for the opening goal. The Wolves quickly responded, sending the game into the first intermission tied 1–1.
The Pioneers battled throughout the second period but were unable to find the back of the net, while the Wolves capitalized with three goals to take a 4–1 lead heading into the third. The Pioneers pushed back early in the final period when #24 Hughes set up #3 Raskin, who found #33 Levins for a goal at 4:09. Despite continued effort, the Pioneers ultimately fell 6–2.
The series concluded Sunday with a rematch against the Wolves. The Wolves struck first, but the Pioneers answered quickly when #25 Bailey found #10 McCarron, who set up #8 G. Matushak to tie the game 1–1 at the end of the first period.
In the second period, the Wolves regained the lead with a power-play goal. Once again, the Pioneers responded as #26 G. Eckdahl connected with #20 Strandberg, who found #24 Hughes to even the score at 2–2. The Pioneers continued to battle, but the Wolves pulled ahead late to secure a 4–2 victory.