2025-26 MARIAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
TOP 10 MOMENTS
#7
NCAA MEN'S HOCKEY RECLAIMS BATTLE OF HIGHWAY 41 WITH OVERTIME WINNER
The Battle of Highway 41 hadn't called Fond du Lac home for back-to-back seasons before
Cole Carlson netted an overtime winner to bring the traveling trophy home.
For the first time in the rivalry, the two teams would battle for the Battle of Highway 41 over a three-game span. The Vikings were able to take the opening match-up 4-2 in a non-conference game despite the Sabres outshooting Lawrence 44-22 in the game. A couple weekends later, Marian was able to even the series with a 7-2 thumping of Lawrence on the road.Â
Brendan Bottem had a monster game scoring a pair of goals to go with three assists, while
Caden Carlson added a goal and four assists.Â
Eemil Rautio joined the party scoring a pair of goals as well.
This setup a winner-take-all third game at Blue Line with major postseason implications also on the line for both squads. Lawrence scored the lone goal of the opening period to take an early 1-0 lead.Â
Noah Pickart was able to even the scoring 7:40 into the second period, but the Vikings retook the lead just 2:33 later. Then with just 1:41 left in the second stanza,
Cole Carlson was able to create a breakaway look and buried a short-handed goal to even the scoring.
After a scoreless third period, the two squads headed to overtime. Marian didn't allow Lawrence a chance to possess the puck in overtime before Carlson, Co. netted the game-winning goal 31 seconds in. Marian outshot Lawrence 25-18 in the game with
Nicholas Von Kaufmann making 16 saves to earn the win in goal. Carlson, Co. went on to earn an NCHA Star of the Week after the five-point weekend.
