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FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Visiting Adrian College, ranked ninth in the polls, proved why it remains atop the MCHA standings as the reigning NCAA Tournament finalists swept away the Marian University men's hockey team with a 4-2 victory at Blueline Family Ice Center this afternoon, Jan. 23.

Tied at 2-2 after two period, the Bulldogs came out blazing in the third, out-shooting the Sabres 11-3 and putting up a decisive two-spot to steal the win and the series sweep. Two quick scores in the second gave Adrian a 2-0 lead, but then Robbie Bailey and Dakota Dubetz answered before the second intermission to tie the game. In the third period, Dan Barczuk hammered home the go-ahead score at the 2:40 mark and Josh Cousineau salted it away with an insurance tally with 9:50 remaining.

The Bulldogs improve to 13-4 overall, 11-1 in the MCHA, while the Sabres fall to 8-5-4 (7-2-3 MCHA).

A scoreless first period also came without a single penalty as both teams played a very speedy and clean sheet. The second period was the exact opposite. It saw four goals and six penalties, but the score remained tied.

Adrian's Shelby Gray broke the scoreless tie with a goal at the 3:09 mark in the second, finding the empty side of the net thanks to quick puck movement on assists by Zach Graham and Chris Stansik.

The Bulldogs would take a 2-0 lead as Jordan Watts found the net less than three minutes later. The Sabres needed a score before the end of the period to stay in it and it's exactly what they got. Bailey was left on the backside of the net as Adrian goalie James Hamby was caught out of position on the power play, allowing the Sabres to pull within a goal. Aaron Leonard and Tanner Burton were credited with assists on the play.

Then just before the period ended, Dubetz converted on assists by Brendan Roberts and Brian Berger to tie the game at 2-2 with just 1:23 left before intermission.

In the third, Adrian came out on all cylinders, getting several shots off before Marian managed to get one on goal. One of those shots turned into a go-ahead, power play score by Barczuk just 2:40 into the period. Cousineau would add the insurance tally as Graham assisted on his third goal of the day.

Marian goalie Josh Baker made 32 saves on the day, including 13 in the second period, but it wasn't enough. Hamby stopped 23 shots to earn the win, his fifth as a freshman.

The Sabres will stay home to take on Finlandia in a two-game set at Blueline this weekend Fri.-Sat. Jan. 27-28. Friday's puck drops at 8 p.m.