Article Photos

Fact Box

Marian1 2 3 - 6

Finlandia1 0 1 - 2

First period - 1, MU, Chris Thompson 7 (Todd Collins, Lane Boswell), 10:02; 2, FU, Derek Rodgers 5 (James Neitsch, Brandon VanAcker), 15:58. Penalties - MU, Ryan Hitchcock (cross-checking), 13:55; MU, Brendan Hull (roughing), 17:03; MU, Brendan Hull (roughing), 17:03; FU, Bryan Solander (roughing), 17:03; FU, Shane McCusker (roughing), 17:03; MU, Collins (roughing), 20:00; FU, McCusker (roughing), 20:00.

Second period - 3, MU, Nick Henkemeyer 3 (Collins), 2:57; 4, MU, Hitchcock 4 (Adam Freeman, Nick Cinquegrani), 12:32. Penalties - MU, Nathan Brummitt (elbowing), :10; MU, Brummitt (boarding), 5:28; FU, James Brey (boarding), 9:04; MU, Mitch Kriz (hooking), 18:18.

Third period - 5, MU, Hull 17 (Brendan Roberts, Dakota Dubetz), 1:59 (PP); 6, MU, Jason Ford (Randy Wills, Brian Pierpont), 5:00; 7, MU, Hull 18 (Roberts, Dubetz), 7:05; 8, FU, Quinn McIntosh 6 (Nemanja Jankovic, Dan Grille), 7:22 (PP). Penalties - FU, Neitsch (boarding), :52; FU, Solander (checking from behind), 1:59; MU, Tommy Fitzpatrick (holding), 7:16; FU, Eric Schultz (slashing), 11:11; MU, Fitzpatrick (interference), 18:02; MU, Fitzpatrick (roughing), 18:02; FU, McIntosh (roughing), 18:02.

Goalies - MU, Cullen Caldwell (21 shots, 19 saves); FU, Mike Wuthrich (35 shots, 29 saves).

Advertisement

HANCOCK - The Finlandia men's hockey team remains stuck in its losing streak, now seven games long, after the Lions fell 6-2 to Marian Saturday.

The Sabres completed a weekend sweep, winning by the same score in both games of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association series at Houghton County Arena.

Finlandia interim coach Chris Salani said the weekend was a step backward brought about by too many penalties, lapses in fundamentals and defensive zone breakdowns.

"We need to be stronger mentally," he said.

In particular, Salani noted breakdowns in Finlandia's transition game, as offensive opportunities would stall, then be turned around into scoring chances for the Sabres.

"Today in particular, there were times when we had good transitions into the (offensive) zone and didn't get the puck to the net," he said.

Marian got the first goal, from Chris Thompson midway through the first period when he backhanded a puck left on the doorstep past Lions goaltender Mike Wuthrich. However, Finlandia responded about six minutes later with a pretty goal tipped in by Derek Rodgers off a shot-pass from James Neitsch.

Marian took the lead back just 2:57 into the second period, when Nick Henkemeyer's shot from the point got through. Finlandia had a handful of chances through the next few minutes, but Ryan Hitchcock was left all alone with Wuthrich in front of the goal and converted his chance, putting the Sabres up 3-1 at 12:32 of the second and largely finishing off the Lions.

Salani said because of the mistakes, others were overstepping their responsibilities to compensate, creating other breakdowns.

"We have a breakdown and an error and it turns into a let-down," he said.

Marian pumped in three quick goals early in the third, with two coming from Brendan Hull, before Quinn MacIntosh converted for a consolation power-play goal to end the scoring at 7:22.

Wuthrich made 29 saves for the Lions (3-16-1, 2-13-1 MCHA), who will host Northland in a weekend series Friday and Saturday. Cullen Caldwell made 19 saves for the Sabres.

Brandon Veale can be reached at bveale@mininggazette.com.