APPLETON, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) - The men's hockey team continued their season on Friday, Nov. 8 in Appleton, the home of the Lawrence Vikings. After their losses last weekend to top-ranked St. Norbert, the Sabres were in search of a change of pace, but fell once again, 3-1.

For the fourth time this season, the Sabres were the ones to break the scoreless tie, with sophomore Ben Morgan's first goal with the Sabres at the 5:40 mark in the first period. Senior Tyler Klein collected his sixth point of the season with an assist.

Marian would hold onto the single goal advantage for the remainder of the first period, while senior Josh Baker stopped all nine shots he saw to take the lead into the locker room.

The Sabres opened the second period with a flurry of offensive chances, but Viking goaltender Anton Olsson would not be shaken. The line of Ben Morgan, Brodie Jamieson and Tyler Klein would be on the doorstep knocking all night long, but they could only account for the one goal on the night.

Lawrence went on the powerplay 9:56 into the second period and would capitalize with ten seconds remaining to knot the score at one. On the goal, Huck Saunders was assisted by Blake Roubos and Patrick Coyne.

Heading into the third period, Marian was primed and ready to steal the first round of the 'Battle of 41', but a goal by Paul Zuke five and a half minutes into the period changed the momentum and got it swinging towards the Vikings.

With their backs to the wall, the Sabres did everything they could to draw the game back to even, but would not be successful. In the process, Baker was pulled with 46 seconds left in favor of the extra attacker, but the plan would backfire, as Rudi Pino netted the empty netter.

"Learning how to win is a habit, but so is losing," Head Coach AJ Aitken said. "We have the tools, but now we need to put it all together and find a way to win."

Marian drops their fourth in a row to start the season, and in the process fall to 0-3 in the NCHA. They'll return to the Blue Line on Saturday night for game two of the 'Battle of 41'. In order to hold on to the trophy, the Sabres will need to win the game and proceed to win the exhibition shootout that would be held to break the draw.