GAYLORD — Marquette is returning to Plymouth with a different attitude.

A four-goal second period was enough to lead Marquette over Traverse City Central 5-2 on Saturday afternoon at the Otsego County Sportsplex in Gaylord and a return to the MHSAA Division 2 state semifinals.

Redmen head coach Doug Garrow thought last year his team was just satisfied with getting to point where they’re at now.

“I think this team’s a little different,” Garrow said after the win. “I think they want to make it further and they want to prove (Upper Peninsula) teams are pretty good.

“We’re going down there with the expectation that we can win the whole thing.”

The Redmen (24-4) return to the Division 2 “frozen four” for the second year in a row looking for revenge after a 4-0 loss to Trenton in the 2019 semifinals.

“It’s what we’ve been working for the whole year,” MSHS senior Gaetano Cammarata said. “This year I think we have more depth. We have four solid lines, all of them can put the puck in the net. Last year we got stopped by a good goalie. This year we’re going to try and get some goals past him.”

TC Central sophomore Grant Neuhardt was certainly one of those goalies in the first period of this quarterfinal matchup.

Marquette put up just seven shots as Central commanded the puck in their own zone most of the period. The Trojans had no issues trying to set up their shots, getting 14 but failing to score.

“Got to that first intermission and sure thought that we’re going to be in a tight one right to the end,” TC Central coach Chris Givens said.

On one chance, all five Redmen crashed the net as Neuhardt saved it with his pad.

“Traverse City took it to us in the first period, they really outplayed us,” Garrow said. “They came at us, maybe we weren’t expecting that.

“We just said, ‘Hey, you’re gonna have to earn this victory tonight.’ Every team from here on out, it’s going to be a good game and nothing’s going to be given to you.”

Jakob Peterson gave the puck some air for the Redmen, and Neuhardt didn’t get to the other end of the crease in time. Peterson hit the top shelf to score 4:48 into the second period.

It was the start of a stretch where Marquette scored four goals in just over five minutes.

In Division 3, Calumet mercied Gaylord 11-1 in Marquette Saturday, with both U.P. teams primed for a run at the title.

The last time Calumet earned the finals title, 2008, was the last time Marquette won as well.