Box Score MILWAUKEE, Wis. (SabreAthletics.Com) -- The Marian University men's hockey team finished the season on an eight-game unbeaten streak to jump up to the fifth seed in the NCHA Harris Cup. The Sabres open the tournament, tonight, in Milwaukee when they start their Quarterfinals series against MSOE.
MSOE is a familiar face for the Sabres in the post season as the two teams met in the Semi-Finals three years in a row, ranging from 2011-2013. Their most recent post-season meeting in 2013 was in, head coach, AJ Aitken's, first year at the helm. The Sabres had a strong defensive performance in the outing. Josh Baker, had success guarding net for the Sabres, allowing only one goal which came in the first period. Offensively, the Sabres got off 29 shots, but were unable to connect as they were defeated 1-0. Both teams played a clean game as there were only two penalties on the night.
Today's Quarterfinal match-up starts a new chapter in the postseason rivalry between the Sabres and Raiders. The two teams met early in the regular season as they each hosted a game in mid-November. MSOE had the edge in the season series, winning each game by a score of 3-1, but the Sabres have become a different team in the last three months.
The Sabres have gone 11-7-1 since the series and are currently riding a 7-0-1 streak. Senior, Brian Berger, has been the team's offensive leader throughout the streak, scoring 11 goals and six assists, while scoring 15 goals and 13 assists on the season. RJay Berra and Warren Carter also became offense leaders throughout the season as they have scored 17 goals combined and 29 points to help guide the Sabre attack.
It has been a team effort during the Sabres' rise throughout the year as each player has utilized their skills to benefit the team. Derek Thorogood and Hunter Stewart have become freshmen standouts for the Sabres. The pair has added offensive depth to the line and has had the ability to shine in key moments of the game. Thorogood has had three goals and seven assists in the last eight games, while Stewart has matched Thorogood in goals and added one more assist during the streak. The pair has accounted for 15 goals and 15 assists on the season.
"It has been a learning process throughout the season as we have 20 freshmen and sophomores on the team, but together we have learned how to win," said coach Aitken. "We are now in a position where we are playing our best hockey and that's what you want. We have an even match-up ahead of us with two teams who are able to capitalize on mistakes, but I am confident in our team's ability."
Goalies, Mike Gudmandson and Mike Baldwin have given the Sabres a dual threat at net, with the rookie Gudmandson carrying the bulk of the load as he has started 16 games, while leading the Sabres to six-straight wins. He has allowed 2.66 goals per game and has saved over 91 percent of shots. Baldwin has been solid in relief for Gudmandson, allowing 2.83 goals per game with a save percentage just under 90. He rose to the occasion on February 13th against St. Scholastica as he came into action in the third period, allowing one goal on 18 attempts to help lead the team to an overtime victory.
MSOE has been on a similar path as the Sabres as of late, winning six of their last seven games to clinch the fourth seed in the conference. Freshmen, Omar Mullan and Jared Tafoya have been key contributors to the Raiders' attack as they have scored 26 of the teams 80 goals on the year. The Raiders have a young team with only two seniors, both defensemen.
Nick Kohn has been the team's star goalie as he has gone 12-5 on the year. Kohn has allowed 1.94 goals per game, while having a save percentage of 93.3 percent on the year. MSOE's trio of goalies have allowed an average 2.15 goals combined and have had a save percentage of 92.4 percent.
The Quarterfinal series against MSOE consists of two games, with a mini-game that would decide a tiebreaker. Action starts tonight at the Kern Center starting at 7:05 p.m. Game two is set for tomorrow, February 21, at 4 p.m.
