FOND DU LAC - Marian University NCAA men's hockey (1-0-0, 0-0-0-0 NCHA) defeated Concordia College 5-4 in overtime to open the season.

The opening of the game was a defensive battle with neither team managing many shots on goal.  The Cobbers would open the scoring at the 10:25 mark but freshman Quinn Mulder evened the score with his first goal as a Sabre.  Sophomore Matteo Pecchia and junior Nolan Kadachuk each earned an assist on the goal.

The second period was similar as each team found the back of the net once with the Cobbers scoring short-handed at the 6:25 mark and Marian answering at 11:12 with a power-play score.  This time it was sophomore Daunte Fortner who lit the lamp with assists to senior Jack Sampson and junior Anthony Bilka.

To no surprise, the two teams went blow for blow in the final period as well.  An unassisted Cobber goal opened the scoring at the 12:43 mark but Marian scored just 17 seconds later.  Sophomore James Knee scored his first Sabre goal with assists to freshman Adam Nobes and Kadachuk.  Marian then took its first lead of the game when sophomore Jordan Simoneau scored on the power play.  Knee earned an assist for the Sabres with the goal coming with 4:14 left to play.  This score held until the Cobbers found an equalizing power-play goal with just 1:23 left top play forcing overtime.

The Cobbers took control early in overtime but on a breakaway opportunity, junior Alex Rondeau beat the goalie to seal the win.  Knee and Bilka each assisted the game-winner which came just 55 seconds into overtime.

The Sabres held a 34-31 edge in shots with Simoneau recording a game-high six shots.  Senior Colby Muise (1-0-0) made 27 saves with 13 of his stops coming in the third period.

The Sabres take on the Cobbers tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 30, for a 7 p.m. puck drop to conclude the series.