Box Score (Eau Claire, WI) - Marian University opened up the season on Friday evening with a 5-3 victory over UW-Eau Claire. The victory marks the first time the Sabres have opened up the regular season with a victory since 1997-1998.
The Sabres were out-shot in the contest, but solid offensive performances from sophomore Brendan Hull (Calgary, AB) and Brendan Roberts (Calgary, AB), as well as a great debut in net from freshman Alex Bjerk (Roseau, MN) propelled Marian to victory.
After UW-Eau Claire took a 1-0 lead on the power play at the 3:39 mark of the first period, senior Nick Henkemeyer (Prior Lake, MN) evened things up with an assist from Andy Kuechler (Lomira, WI).
In the second, Hull scored just :58 seconds into the period on the power play. Roberts and freshman Tommy Fitzpatrick (Ft. McMurray, AB) assisted on the goal. At the 2:44 mark, senior Jason Ford (Milford, MI) gave the Sabres a 3-1 lead with some help from senior Nick Cinquegrani (Rolling Meadows, IL) and sophomore Adam Freeman (Wauwatosa, WI).
UW-Eau Claire cut the deficit to 3-2 in the sixth minute, but Hull scored again on the power play at the 13:00 mark. Freshman Dakota Dubetz (Chestermore, AB) assisted on the goal.
In the third, the Blugolds made it 4-3 in the sixteenth minute. Roberts finished the scoring with an empty-net goal with just :12 remaining.
Bjerk finished his first career start with 36 saves.
