HANCOCK, Mich. – The Marian University women's hockey team (5-11-0, 2-7-0 NCHA) went 3-5 on the power play, while Lindsey Strainis posted her second consecutive shutout as the Sabres swept Finlandia with a 4-0 final.

Jessie Meluch opened the scoring for the game in the final two minutes of the first period on the power play with assists from Emily Everson and Courtney Wittig before Hailey Miller extended the lead out to 2-0 with her own power play midway through the second period with assists to Nicole Niemi and Sarah Bier.  The goals were number three for Meluch and second for Miller on the season.

MU then dominated the third period with a pair of goals and outshot the Lions by an 11-5 margin.  Paige Picard was assisted by Wittig for the third power play goal of the game at the 2:37 mark for her first goal of the season, and only 39 seconds later Sheila Blower netted what proved to be the final goal of the game for her first career score with an assist to Everson to put the final at 4-0.

Marian finished the game with a 29-18 shots advantage with Strainis stopping all 18 shots sent her way as she improved to 2-6-0 on the year with her second consecutive shutout.  Strainis, with the help of the Sabre penalty kill, held the Lions 0-3 in the game as the freshman goalie stopped a total of 34 shots on the weekend.

Meluch finished the game with a team-high five shots and also went 18-26 in the face off circle to lead the Sabres.

Marian returns to Blue Line for a midweek match up with Concordia Wisconsin Wednesday, Jan. 20 for a 7 p.m. puck drop.

--FightBlueFight--