Marian rallies in third period to down Vikings

FOND DU LAC,  Wis. — The Marian University hockey team rallied for a pair of third-period goals to pull out a 3-2 Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association victory over Lawrence University on Thursday at the Blue Line Ice Center.

Lawrence (2-3-0, 2-3-0 MCHA) led 2-1 heading to the third period, but the Sabres (3-3-1, 3-2-0) scored twice in the first seven minutes of the final period.

Lucas Mertz scored his first goal of the season just 4:13 into third period to tie the game at 2-2. Ashton Reinboldt then gave the Sabres the lead for good with his goal at the 6:53 mark.

Lawrence pulled goaltender Peter Emery for the final 1:14 but couldn’t get the equalizer. Emery made 35 saves and took the loss.

Marian pulled ahead 1-0 on Aaron Leonard’s goal with 2:21 remaining in the first period. That lead didn’t last as Phil Bushbacher scored his third goal of the season, a power-play tally, off a pass from Brandon Boelter with just 23 seconds left in the first.

Lawrence grabbed a 2-1 lead at 5:54 of the second when Brad Scurfield scored off passes from Bushbacher and Rudi Pino.

Marian goaltender Josh Baker didn’t allow anything the rest of the way and finished with 33 saves.

The teams wrap up the series on Friday night at the Appleton Family Ice Center.

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