xNorth Iowa takes care of xGranite City early, wins 10-5

Jan 25, 2014

The xGranite City Lumberjacks fell behind early, and the xNorth Iowa Bulls kept piling on the points on the way to a 10-5 victory.

Richie Marenis had two goals and three assists to lead xNorth Iowa. Marenis scored the first of his two goals at 12:04 into the first period to make the score 2-0 xNorth Iowa. Kurt Halbach assisted on the tally. Marenis\’ next tally made the score 3-0 xNorth Iowa with 2:52 left in the first period. Matt Kroska picked up the assist.

The Bulls were often in penalty trouble, totaling 10 minors and two majors for 30 minutes in penalty time. xNorth Iowa had been averaging 15.0 minutes in penalties per game. The Bulls forced Lumberjacks\’ goalies to work without much rest, firing 35 shots and forcing 25 saves. Austin Wilson made 17 stops and Scott Murray made eight. xNorth Iowa found the back of the net more times than it usually has this season. The Bulls average 6.6 goals per game. xNorth Iowa struggled on the penalty kill, allowing xGranite City to score five power play goals on nine chances. The Bulls gave up more goals than its normal season average. xNorth Iowa gives up 2.0 goals per game.

xNorth Iowa also got points from Kroska, who also registered two goals and two assists and Logan Murphy, who also finished with two goals and one assist. Others who scored for xNorth Iowa included Brandon Anderson, who had two and Dominik Florian and Conor Jonasson, who scored one goal each. Other players who recorded assists for xNorth Iowa were Chancie Hanson, who had two, Timothy Santopoalo, who had four, and Joe Kleven, Ron Lindgren, Kyle Krueger, Matthew Fosdick, and Chris Amsden, who each chipped in one.

The Lumberjacks racked up the penalties in the contest, and ended with nine minors and one major for 43 minutes in penalty time. The total exceeded the 19.0 minutes per game xGranite City had been spending in the box.

The Lumberjacks were helped by Morgan Martelle, who tallied one goal. Martelle scored on the power play 3:50 into the second period to make the score 4-2 xNorth Iowa. A slashing penalty on Ian Penvose had put xGranite City on the power play. Roy Grandov assisted on the tally. xGranite City also had goals scored by David Kenney, who had two and Aidan Verbeke and Taylor Brown, who scored one goal each. In addition, xGranite City received assists from Gavin Porter, who had two and Brett Love, Drew Otto, Sam Zweiner, and Nick Haase, who contributed one a piece.

Chris Amsden made 23 saves for the Bulls on 28 shots. xNorth Iowa registered two goals on seven power play opportunities.