No. 6 Marian University ACHA D2 (10-5-1, 6-1-0 NCHL) will have the opportunity to earn their fourth Hap Cup Championship after defeating No. 17 CUW 5-2.
The Sabres were able to find the back of the net first with Karl Lavoie lighting the lamp at the 10:07 mark. After a double-minor was called on Marian, the Falcons were able to tie the game at 1-1 with just 54 seconds left in the opening period. This score held up and put the squads tied heading into the first intermission.
It took just 1:13 into the second period for Marian to retake the lead with Tyler Studant finding the back of the net on a power play. Studant then scored his second special-team goal lighting the lamp short-handed just 3:22 later. A third special-team goal saw the power-play unit find the back of the net at the 12:43 mark. Colby Sherlock was the goal scorer for Marian. The penalty-kill unit then closed out a dominant special teams period holding the Falcons scoreless on an extended 5-on-3 opportunity. Marian would find themselves ahead 4-1 going into the final period.
The Falcons were able to open the scoring for the third period scoring 3:52 in to cut their deficit down to 4-2. The Marian defense was able to stand tall the remainder of the game with an empty-net goal from Ben Borreson in the final second putting the final at 5-2.
Will McCreight was dominant between the pipes for the Sabres making 41 saves to earn the victory.
Marian takes on Marquette in the championship game tomorrow, Saturday, February 19, for a 4 p.m. puck drop.
