Sabres give Adrian all they can handle
3/6/2010 6:12:37 PM
(Adrian, MI) - Marian University gave Adrian College all they could handle in the finals of the MCHA Tournament on Saturday afternoon, but fell 3-2 to the Bulldogs. The Sabres led 2-1 midway through the third period, but the potent Bulldog attack scored in the tenth minute and then again with just :44 to play to win the Harris Cup. With the victory, the Bulldogs earn the MCHA's first automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Marian finished the season with a 20-7 record, which is a school record.
The Bulldogs outshot the Sabres 46-32 and took a 1-0 lead late in the first period as Eric Roman scored at the 18:18 mark.
The Sabres then appeared to grab control of the contest in the second period as Brendan Hull (Calgary, AB) scored his 21st goal of the season at the 15:31 mark. Dakota Dubetz (Chestermore, AB) assisted on the play. Then, at the 17:14 mark, Adam Freeman (Wauwatosa, WI) lit the lamp off assists from Nick Henkemeyer (Prior Lake, MN) and Nick Cinquegrani (Rolling Meadows, IL).
The Sabres held the lead for the first ten minutes of the third period, but Adrian's Shawn Skelly evened things at the 10:22 mark.
Adrian committed a penalty at the 16:14 mark, giving the Sabres an opportunity. Marian was unable to convert and with just :44 to play Eric Miller scored the game-winner.
The loss ended Marian's fifteen-game winning-streak.
Marian's Alex Bjerk (Roseau, MN) stopped 42 shots, while Adrian's Brad Fogal stopped 30 shots.
Hull, Bjerk, and Zach Fray (Cambridge, ON) were named to the MCHA All-Tournament Team.