APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University women's hockey team took Marian University to the limit on Thursday at the Appleton Ice Center, but the Sabres held on for a 3-2 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association victory.
    Lawrence got goals from Sofia Alvarez and Lindsey Gulliksen, and the Vikings nearly got the equalizer in the final minutes.
    Marian carried a 3-1 lead into the third period, and the Sabres gave the Vikings five power-play opportunities in the final period. Lawrence didn't cash in on any of them, but Gulliksen pulled the Vikings closer with a goal midway through the period. 
    Gulliksen took a pass from Alvarez and beat Marian goaltender Kayla Kolpitcke at the 10:39 mark to trim the lead to 3-2.
    The Vikings were set to pull goaltender Chasity Anderson late when they were whistled for interference with 1:59 remaining. Lawrence generated a great scoring chance when Marian misplayed the puck, and Lauren Askenazy found herself with the puck near the Marian net.
    Kolpitcke turned away Askenazy's point-blank shot, and that was Lawrence's best scoring chance in the final minute. The Vikings were able to pull Anderson with 30 seconds left but didn't get another shot on goal.
    Marian (5-10-1, 1-6-0 NCHA) led 1-0 on a power-play goal midway through the opening period, but the Vikings (1-15-0, 0-7-0) tied it up just a few minutes later. After a scramble in front of the net, Alvarez scored at the 12:13 mark, and the game was tied 1-1 after one period.
    The Sabres scored twice in a span of less then three minutes in the second period to grab a 3-1 edge.
    Anderson made 37 saves, including several huge saves in the third period to keep the Vikings close. Kolpitcke stopped 30 shots for the Sabres.
    The teams combined for 17 penalties as Lawrence went 0-for-7 on the power play and Marian was 1-for-8.
    Lawrence and Marian wrap up the series on Friday night at the Blue Line Ice Center in Fond du Lac, Wis.