FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) - The Marian University women's soccer team welcomed Concordia University Wisconsin to a cold and rainy Smith Field, today, Oct. 14, for a game that could have heavy conference tournament seeding implications. The matchup went to the Sabres, who claimed the 3-1 victory over the Falcons thanks to a strong defensive performance.

The Falcons came into the day averaging 3.2 goals per game led by juniors Brittany Klump and Carley Pfannerstill, but the offensive duo was held to just four shots on goal on the day. Marian goalie Caitlyn Rosenberger was top-notch in her first start after missing five games due to injury, stopping 15-of-16 shots that came her way.

For the Sabres, it was the dangerous duo of Brittany Syms and Laura Maly who got the Sabres started offensively. In the 25' Maly crossed to Syms, who put it top shelf in the upper left corner of the goal to add to her team-leading ninth goal of the season.

Offensively, the Sabres continued to find opportunities as once again Maly was able to find the open player. Senior Leisa Conn capitalized for her second goal of the season on a 35-yard strike just before halftime. The assist for Maly was her eighth on the year, which is the most for the Sabres. Conn's goal was her first in six games, as the senior forward is heating up at a prime time in the season.

Defensively, the Sabres held the Falcons to four shots on goal in the first half, helping the offense have their way. The starting back line of Molly Kovarik, Kelly Kulinski, Nicole Rublee and Jaime Anderson were continuously in good position to clear the ball and that led to many counter attacks. The Sabre defense ultimately outplayed the high-scoring Falcon offense by finding ways to disrupt their rhythm and effectively transfer opportunities to the offensive end.

"It was all about communicating together, making sure we knew where are marks were and, overall, working as a team defensive line," the junior defender Anderson said after the win.

The Sabre defense has allowed just one goal in their current four-game win streak.

Marian was able to add more support late in the second half, as Mikaela Johnson found a breakaway, fooling goalkeeper Tabitha Ortiz just enough to slip the ball past her fingertips and in to make it 3-0.

As the second half drew on, the shutout grew near, but the falcons were in desperation mode. Senior Anna Hirssig was able to squeeze a shot through Rosenberger's left side off a corner kick from teammate Emily Ciesielczyk.

That ended an impressive streak of 383 minutes without allowing a goal.

The Sabres climb over the .500 mark for the first time this season after winning their fourth in a row and sixth in their last eight tries overall. They improved to 7-6 on the season and 4-2 in the NACC, which moves Marian into a tie for third in the league standings.

The Sabres look to continue the streak on Friday, Oct. 17, as they travel to first-place and NACC unbeaten, Aurora University, for a 2 p.m. start.