Box Score
ASHLAND, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University men's hockey team settled for a 5-5 draw on the road to host Northland College and is coming home with a still unbeaten mark in Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association. Freshman
Brian Berger scored twice to bring his season total to 10 for the Sabres.
After falling behind 1-0, a combination of
Brendan Roberts and
Brian Berger propelled Marian in front by a score of 3-1. But then the Lumberjacks came storming back, scoring four unanswered goals, including one power play and another short-handed, to take a 5-3 lead.
Dakota Dubetz brought Marian to within one with 90 seconds left to play and Wilson netted the game-tying goal 45 seconds later to salvage a point.
The Sabres move to 6-2-4 overall, 5-0-3 in MCHA play, while Northland moves to 3-6-1 (2-5-1 MCHA).
The 'Jacks took an early advantage after Colin McIntosh slipped one past Marian goaltender
Josh Baker at the 1:31 mark of the first period. But it didn't take long for
Brendan Roberts to even the score as he recorded his fifth goal of the season and third in two nights at the 3:47 mark.
Berger then stole the spotlight, for the remainder of the period anyway, as he scored twice in a 24-second span. Berger took a pass from
Mitch Kriz and deposited in the back of the net at the 10:44 mark and followed that up with the help Roberts on the second one at 11:08 for a 3-1 Sabre lead at the intermission.
For the next period and a half, though, it would be all Northland. Chad Liley and Mike Lennon tied the game by the 16:26 mark in the second period. Then, Kraig Wright gave the 'Jacks their second lead of the game at the 5:44 mark in the third off assists from McIntosh and Liley.
The tacked on an insurance tally less than three minutes later on a short-handed effort after the Sabres were called for too many players on the ice.
The resilience of Marian shown through bright at the end as Dubetz put an end to his six-game string without scoring a goal as he cut the deficit to one at the 18:30 mark. It was the 100th career point for Dubetz, a crowning acheivement as he is only the ninth Sabre to ever reach that milestone and the third-fastest to do so, needing just 66 games. Wilson then tied the game with 45 seconds remaining to send it to overtime.
Marian killed off a penalty in the extra period to secure the tie.
The Sabres outshot the 'Jacks, 44-29, and penalties were 7-5 in favor of Northland.
Marian will head to Winona, Minn. to take on St. Mary's Friday, Dec. 9, in a non-conference bout before taking the next month-plus off. Saturday's tilt is slated for 7 p.m.
