Marian took a 2-1 lead in the second period before Wisconsin-River Falls scored three straight goals to down the Sabres, 4-2, at Hunt Arena.
Marian’s Ken McKay scored just 1:02 into the game. The Sabres would hold that lead until the 1:04 mark of the second, when Reese Carlson tallied an unassisted goal for the Falcons.
The Sabres retook the lead on a Tommy Katsopoulos goal at 4:03 of the period.
River Falls tied the game at 2-2 with a goal by Even Stensrud with just over three minutes left in the second, and took the lead for good with Nick Hanrahan’s goal at 6:41 of the third period.
Matt Elsen scored an empty-netter with 14 seconds left to seal the Falcons’ win.
Justin Ferguson made 17 saves in the win, while Marian’s Terry Dunbar stopped 27 shots.
River Falls (2-0-0) hosts Wis.-Eau Claire and Wis.-Stevens Point next weekend to start its NCHA schedule. Marian (0-2-0) visits St. Norbert in a non-conference tilt, Tuesday, Oct. 30.
