Box Score
CEDARBURG, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University women's hockey team fell in another close game, this time in its NCHA opener, 5-4, in overtime to host Concordia University Wisconsin in its season and home opener at Ozaukee Ice Center this evening, Nov. 1.
The Sabres held two separate leads in the contest, including a 2-0 edge to open the scoring and a 4-3 advantage late in the second after a short-handed goal by
Megan Sesing-Gomoll . But with 9:19 left in the third, CUW's Kelsey Kusch tied the score and Alyssa Isaacksen eventually won it in overtime.
The Falcons improve to 1-0 on the season, while the Sabres fall to 0-2.
Marian's
Amanda Alexander followed up a 46-save performance in the team's season opener last Saturday with 47 more saves tonight, 12 of those coming in overtime prior to the winning goal 4:08 into the frame.
Freshman
Amanda Waigand had herself an impressive follow-up performance as well, scoring two more power play goals in the losing effort. Both scores came in the first period. The first goal, assisted by
Abby Miner and
Shelby Sayers-Jones, was scored 9:17 into the period. The second score, assisted by
Rachel Mullendore and
Alex DeBoer, was netted with 1:25 remaining before the first intermission to spot the Sabres an early 2-0 lead.
CUW's Emily Heckendorf wouldn't let the Falcons go into the break empty handed as she got her team on the board with just 33 second remaining in the first period to make it 2-1.
Heckendorf would tie the game just nine seconds into the second stanza before her teammate Hilary Christiansen gave the Falcons their third unanswered goal and a 3-2 lead 11:53 into the period.
DeBoer finally had an answer for the royal blue and white, scoring on the power play with 6:13 left in the period to tie the game at 3-3. Mullendore and Sophie Shieldt provided the assists on the equalizer. The Sabres then regained the lead when Sesing-Gomoll made it 4-3 with a short-handed goal on a helper by Waigand with 3:58 remaining in the second.
In the third, Kusch tied it up just before the midway point in the period. Heckendorf and Christiansen then assisted Isaackson with just 52 second remaining in the overtime session to give the hosts a thrilling season opening victory.
The game saw 15 penalties combined with the Falcons being whistled for nine.
The Sabres will be back in action this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5, as they take on UW-Stevens Point in a home-and-home beginning in Stevens Point, Wis. Friday at 7 p.m. Both teams will then make the trek back for a 4 p.m. start at Blueline Family Ice Center Saturday afternoon.
