FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) - Hoping to replicate the outcome from Friday night's game, Marian came from behind on Saturday, January 25 to defeate Northland 5-3, completing the weekend sweep and moving to within one point of Concordia Wis. in the NCHA standings.

The win for Marian on Friday marked the end of a nine-game winless streak. Senior Matt Williams knew this weekend's series was going to be big and that the team would need to be well prepared for it.

"The big message in the locker room was to outwork them," Williams said. "If we put a solid 60-minute effort in we could be successful this weekend."

It's easy for a team that is in a position like Marian's to get down on themselves and allow a negative attitude to infiltrate the locker room. With a number of the players on the roster having played junior hockey, they've experienced streaks like this before and knew how to handle it.

"I've had a few years like this in juniors and the key is to stay positive," freshman Derek Perl said. "The key is to stay positive and work hard in every practice and it'll translate into the game."

After falling behind less than three minutes in on a goal from Matt Rose, Marian went to the penalty kill at 7:10 of the first period. Pressuring to allow his teammates to change, junior Brian Berger took the puck off the half boards and caught Mason Riley off guard to tie things at one. Before the end of the period, Northland would regain the lead on a goal from Cody Hasbargen with less than four minutes remaining.

In the recent stretch of games, Marian had often found themselves playing from behind but were dedicated to right the ship on Saturday. Just five minutes into the second period, senior Matt Williams tied the game at two on assists from Derek Perl and Tyler Klein. Marian would go ahead on the scoreboard at 12:28 of the second period on a goal from junior Ben Morgan.

The Lumberjacks refused to go away quietly, tying the game at 15:50 on a goal from Louis Labbe. The 3-3 tie would carry over into the third period. Of Marian's 40 shots on goal in the game, 22 of them came during the second period.

With overtime looming, Brian Berger decided enough was enough, and scored his second of the day at 14:32 of the third on an assist from sophomore Brett Campbell. With the net empty, Williams would add his second of the game with ten seconds left in the game to seal the victory and weekend sweep.

The win marks the second sweep this season for Marian, with the first coming against MSOE back in November. Marian now stands at 5-6-1 in the NCHA and only one point behind Concordia Wis. who they will see next weekend in a home-and-home series.

"We need to keep competing hard in practice," Williams said. "This last week, everyone competed as hard as they possibly could and if we keep doing that it'll make everyone better." 

The Sabres will be on the road next Friday in Mequon before returning to the Blue Line on Saturday to wrap-up the series.