Box Score

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University women's hockey team recorded its first regular season victory over visiting Finlandia University, 4-1, in NCHA play this evening, Jan. 20. Freshman Amanda Waigand scored twice for the Sabres, while Alex DeBoer and Amanda Reimann also added goals.

DeBoer got the Sabres on the board early, scoring at the 1:48 mark of the first period to draw first blood. In the second period, Waigand scored her first of her two goals and Reimann added one as well as Marian took a 3-0 lead into the second intermission. After Finlandia got on the board at the 6:21 mark of the third period, Waigand added an empty-net insurance tally to round out the scoring.

Freshman goaltender Amanda Alexander made 23 saves en route to her first career victory. Her counterpart Breanna Hynes made 32 saves in the loss.

Marian improves to 1-14-1 overall, 1-10 in the NCHA with the win, while the Lions fall to 0-14-1 (0-11 NCHA).

DeBoer's unassisted score really set the tone for the Sabres, as it gave them the advantage in a matchup that featured two teams looking for their first win of the year. It was her third goal of the season.

A 1-0 lead still didn't feel safe going into the second period and t hen Waigand added her eighth goal of the year, an unassisted tally at the 6:38 mark. Reimann then scored her first goal of the season just before the period came to a close. Devan Lesch and Rachel Mullendore assisted on the score as it gave Marian a 3-0 lead after two periods.

In the third, the Lions finally reached the scoreboard as Jolene Kneebone got her first career goal at the 6:21 mark. Late in the game, Marian's Megan Sesing-Gomoll was called for a penalty at the 17:43 mark of the third period.

Already with an extra attacker, but down two scores, the Lions decided to pull their goalie for the 6-on-4 chance. However, the plan backfired as Waigand netted the short-handed, empty-net goal with just 56 seconds remaining. It was her team-leading ninth goal of the year.

The Sabres outshot the Lions, 36-24, in the win. Both teams were 0-for-5 on the power play and both squads were whistled for six minor infractions.

Marian and Finlandia will be back at it tomorrow afternoon. The puck will drop at 2 p.m. at the Waupun Community Center in Waupun, Wis.