ASHLAND, Wis. - Marian University men's hockey (7-7-1, 5-5-0 NCHA) returned to .500 in conference play with a 5-3 win over Northland.

Marian was able to jump out to a quick lead with a pair of goals in the first period opening with sophomore Jake Howie's fifth goal of the year.  Howie was assisted by fellow sophomores Gianni Mangone and Nick Monfils to give the Sabres the first lead of the game. 

Then with only 10 seconds left in the period, junior Curtis Lewington lit the lamp for the third time this season, assist to freshman Clay Cross, to send Marian into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.

Northland would open the scoring for the second period to cut the Sabre lead in half, but MU answered with another pair of goals in the final 1:09 of the period.  Freshman Mitchell Baumann scored his first career goal with an assist to senior Cole McCaig and freshman Connor Blanck.  Just 38-seconds later, at the 19:29 mark of the period, Monfils found the back of the net for the fifth time this year with assists to Lewington and senior Brodie Jamieson to send Marian into the second intermission ahead 4-1.

The LumberJacks wouldn't go away on their home ice, however, netting a pair of goals to open the third period and cut the deficit to 4-3.

With 58-seconds remaining in the contest Howie was able to put the puck into an empty net, assist to Monfils, to seal the win and set the final at 5-3.

The Sabres finished with a slim 41-39 shot advantage and couldn't find the back of the net on five power play opportunities.

Senior Mike Baldwin (6-4-1) pushed his unbeaten streak to seven games with 36 saves in the win.

Marian opens a home-and-home series against Concordia Wisconsin Friday, January 13th with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m.

--FightBlueFight--