DULUTH - Marian University women's hockey (5-13-0, 2-9-0 NCHA) scored more than three goals for only the third time this season but fell on the road to St. Scholastica by a 7-4 final to open a two game series.

The Saints put a pair of goals on the board in the first period before Nicole Niemi scored her first career goal on a power play 53 seconds into the second period.  Fellow freshmen Jill Schneider and Courtney Wittig assisted the goal as MU outshot CSS 20-12 for the period.  Scholastica would net a pair of goals to conclude the scoring in the second period to take a 4-1 lead heading into the final stanza.

A quick score to open the third period from Wittig, assisted by Emily Everson, cut the Sabre deficit down to 4-2 with just under 19 minutes left in regulation.  The Saints answered, however, with a pair of goals sepearted by 2:17 on the clock to extend their lead out to 6-2. 

Wittig was able to cut the deficit in half once again with her second goal of the period at the 5:46 mark for her 11th goal on the season.

The second power play goal of the period for CSS gave the Saints a four goal advantage once again with an unassisted goal from Rian Lennon putting the final at 7-4.

Wittig had a game-high 13 shots in the loss with Lindsey Strainis making 22 saves in 44:18 of action, and Ali Glazer stopping eight of nine shots in her 15:37 of playing time.

Marian finished the game with a season-high 44 shots.

The Sabres look to bounce back as they conclude the season-series with St. Scholastica tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m.

--FightBlueFight--