FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) - Following a tough 4-0 loss on Friday night, it was gut check time for the women's hockey team. It was no easy task in front of them, as UW-Superior entered the weekend ranked at No. 8 in the latest USCHO poll. Despite being labeled as the underdogs, the Sabres persevered and came out with a 2-2 draw on Saturday, Dec. 14.

For the second night in a row, the Yellowjackets got on the board in the first period. Hayley Epema assisted on a Dani Schulz goal 5:22 into the first period. However, unlike in Friday's game, the Sabres would respond just minutes later.

"Usually when the other team scores, we get down," freshman Sarah Bier said. "To bounce back right away was a big shift in momentum for us."

With a faceoff in the offensize zone, junior Kelly Leslie won the draw cleanly back to Bier who rifled a shot through traffic, hitting twine after a courteous redirection. It was Bier's second goal of the year and could not have come at a more opportune time.

Once again, junior Amanda Alexander would be called on repeatedly to stop the barrage of shots, turning away 27 shots through the first two periods alone. The netminder would finish with 45 saves on the night.

With overtime looming, UW-Superior grabbed a hold of the lead with 5:15 left in the third period on a goal from Caitlyn Hunt. The celebration would be short-lived, however, as Kerry Mayhew was whistled for a roughing penalty following the goal, giving Marian a powerplay opportunity.

Trailing by one, the afterburners were engaged and just 14 seconds into the powerplay, junior Kaitlyn Johnson banged home a rebound to tie the game at two.

"When Nina (Laurie) gets the puck on the sideboards I try to sneak down and look for the pass across," Johnson said. "She shot it and the rebound fell to me and I put it in."

The teams would trade scoring chances over the remainder of the third and overtime, but after 65 minutes of play, things would end in a 2-2 tie.

"Last night, I thought we played pretty well, but Superior capitalized on our mistakes," Head Coach Jamie Kivi said. "Tonight, I thought we won the little battles and if you can do that you'll win the big one."

Marian will enter the holiday break at 3-7-1, needing just one win over the remainder of the season to set the new standard in program history. The Sabres will be back in action on January 10 and 11 when they host No. 7 St. Scholastica.