FOND DU LAC, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin ACHA men's hockey team nearly erased a five-goal deficit on Saturday night, but their furious rally came up just short as Marian claimed a 6-5 victory to even the Mequondulac Cup weekend series.

The Sabres jumped out quickly, building a 4-1 lead through the opening period. Senior McCarthy Clark (Chicago, Ill.) got the Falcons on the board with the lone CUW goal of the period, assisted by juniors Chuck Emme and Owen Almburg (both of Glenview, Ill.).

Marian pushed its advantage to 6-1 in the second period, but Emme struck late in the period to give CUW life, finishing off a feed from freshman Jackson Lord (Mequon, Wis.) and Almburg.

The momentum carried into the third, as Emme tallied again less than two minutes in on the power play, assisted by senior Tommy Cassel (Grafton, Wis.). Cassel then buried his own goal midway through the period, with seniors Garrett Wilderman (Waukesha, Wis.) and Emme adding helpers.

With under two minutes remaining, Wilderman pulled CUW within one, finishing a setup from Emme and Cassel, but the Falcons' final push could not produce the equalizer.

CUW outshot the Sabres 41-33, while senior goaltender Austin Bartell (New Berlin, Wis.) stopped 27 shots. The loss snaps a seven-game winning streak and moves the Falcons to 13-7 overall and 6-2 in NCHL Black Division play. Marian retains the Mequondulac Cup.

Concordia looks to bounce back next weekend at Trine.