LAKE FOREST, Illinois (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University men's hockey team fell behind early and could not recover as host Lake Forest College registered a 4-1 win at home to sweep the weekend series, tonight, Jan. 17.

The Foresters (9-3-5, 7-2-1 NCHA), who are receiving votes in both ranking polls, took a 3-0 lead before Brian Berger got the Sabres (6-11-0, 2-8-0 NCHA) on the board at the 9:20 mark of the third period. LFC added an empty net goal to cap the scoring on the night.

Marian outshot LFC, 44-38, marking the second consecutive night that the Sabres finished with the edge in shots on target.

The Foresters broke the scoreless tie at the 10:48 mark when Ian Pichel found the back of the net with his third goal of the year. Shawn Nelson then made it 2-0 at the 8:58 mark of the second period with his fourth goal of the season off an assist from Billy Kent.

Kent and Nelson would combine for one more tally just 2:40 into the third with Kent scoring his fifth of the year before the Sabres were able to break through.

Berger snuck one by LFC netminder Leo Podolsky on assists by Ben Morgan and Aaron Leonard at the 9:20 mark of the third period.

Trailing 3-1 at the 17:17 mark, the Sabres took their timeout and pulled their goalie, Mike Gudmandson. Defenseman Thomas Nosella rung a shot off the crossbar before LFC's Bobby Barrett provided the final straw with an empty net goal with 2:00 remaining in the game.

Podolsky stopped 43 shots in earning the win, while Gudmandson turned aside 34 shots in a loss.

The Sabres will hit the road for a two-game set at Northland College next weekend, Friday-Saturday, Jan. 23-24.