LAKE FOREST, Ill. (SabreAthletics.com) - After battling back all night long, the Sabres eventually fell to the hands of Lake Forest on Saturday, January 18, 4-3 in overtime. Marian would show great resiliency, fighting back multiple times over the course of the game.

Both squads came out with speed and intensity in the first frame, and it was Lake Forest who got on the board first. Justin Pelock capitalized on the man-advantage, as Mcauley Banning and Charlie Stein collected the helpers. Not long later, Marian would answer, on a goal by senior Robbie Bailey at 11:22 of the first period. The teams would go to the locker room tied at one.

Once again, it was the Foresters who grabbed the lead, scoring at 13:15 of the second period. Just like in the first, the Sabres would answer right back as junior Brian Berger converted on the pass from freshman Mike Zajac to tie things back up at two. Lake Forest would add their third goal of the game late in the period to take the 3-2 lead into the third.

Knowing the importance of the points at hand, Marian got back to work in the third and were rewarded for their efforts. Senior Matt Williams banged his shot off the near post and in to tie the  game at three. The third period could've been described as a "Wild West Shootout" as both teams traded opportunities the rest of the way. Senior Josh Baker stopped all ten shots he saw in the third to deny Lake Forest the regulation victory. He would finish with 30 saves on the night.

The overtime period saw much of the same style that occurred in the third, but the difference came on a failed clearing attempt that Lake Forest defenseman Ben Certo flung the puck back on frame. In transit, Anthony Annunziato touched it just enough to create a deflection sending it past Baker, giving Lake Forest the 4-3 victory.

Lake Forest will travel to Fond du Lac tomorrow morning to wrap-up the weekend series. Marian is in desperate need of points in the NCHA if they hope to host an opening round playoff game at the end of the season. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be streamed live via Stretch Internet with Marian's own Adam "Jock Jams" Hill on the call.