A goal with 29 seconds to play by Arizona Christian's Marlon Arce proved the difference as The Master's lost their final regular season game of the season 2-1 Saturday in Glendale, Ariz.
The Mustangs lose three of their final four GSAC games to finish 7-5-3 overall and 3-3-1 in conference.
The Firestorm needed to win in order to make the GSAC Championship Tournament. TMU will finish fourth in conference play behind season-champion Menlo, Vanguard and Hope International.
"ACU had everything to play for and they turned it on late," said TMU Head Coach Jim Rickard. "We had the majority of possessions, but couldn't separate from them with a few good chances."
After a scoreless first half,
Matt Picht scored an unassisted goal in the 69th minute to give the Mustangs the 1-0 lead. It was the first career goal for the sophomore defenseman from Victorville, Calif.
The scored stayed that way until the 81st minute when the Firestorm's Aiden Abbitt knotted the game at 1-1. That set up his teammate's heroics less than 10 minutes later.
"Now we need to focus on the playoffs and put the regular season behind us," Rickard said. "The key now is getting guys healthy who are banged up."
The Master's will play the opening round of the GSAC Championship Tournament at home next Saturday when they host the Jessup Warriors. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
