Box Score FOND DU LAC, Wis. - Marian University men's hockey (1-6-0, 1-5-0 NCHA) skated well with No. 1 UW-Stevens Point but an early 4-0 deficit was too much to overcome in a 6-3 loss.
After the Pointers scored a pair of goals in the first period and a pair of late second period goals, junior Derek Thorogood lit the lamp in the slot for his team-high 4th goal of the season with 2:01 left in the period. Senior Scott Milnthorp and junior Hunter Stewart assisted the goal, which capped off a period that saw the Sabres outshoot UWSP 11-7 to even the shots at 18-18 entering the final period.
The Pointers rallied early to open the third period finding the back of the net only 1:10 into the period but freshman Clay Cross netted the equalizer five minutes later for his second goal of the year, assist to sophomore Jake Howie.
With just over two minutes to play the Sabres would go on a 5-on-3 power play and opted to pull their goalie for the 6-on-3 advantage. Only 15 seconds later, however, the Pointers took advantage of the empty net to extend their lead back out to 6-2.
Still on the power play, 53 seconds after the empty netter sophomore Gianni Mangone sent a shot from the point that skipped off the pad of the Pointer goalie and snuck in for his third goal of the year. Thorogood assisted the goal for his second multi-point game of the season and closed out the scoring to put the final at 6-3.
The Sabres finished the game with a 27-25 shots advantage but the power play struggled only scoring one goal on nine opportunities.
Junior Mike Gudmandson (1-2-0) took the loss in net making 19 saves on 24 of the shots he faced. Mangone led the way offensively with a game-high six shots.
Marian stays at home hosting UW-Superior Saturday, November 19 at 7 p.m. from Blue Line.
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