FOND DU LAC, Wis. -- Adam Brzezicki's goal with 1:27 left in regulation broke a tie Friday, and the Lawrence University men's hockey team added another score to secure a 3-1 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association victory over Marian University at the Blue Line Ice Center.
    The win gives Lawrence the advantage in the Battle of Highway 41 series, and it also moves the Vikings into sixth place in the NCHA standings with one game left in the regular season. The Vikings need one more point to guarantee a playoff berth.
    Lawrence (8-15-1, 4-10-1 NCHA) trailed 1-0 heading to the third period after Marian (9-15-0, 3-12-0) scored late in the second to take the lead.
    The Vikings tied the game up 6:49 into the third period when Michels' centering pass found Cody Brekke in front of the net. Brekke redirected the puck past Marian goaltender Aaron Brunn to tie the game at 1-1.
    After both teams killed off penalties later in the period, the Sabres were whistled for interference at the 16:05 mark. Marian killed off that penalty, but the Vikings scored less than 30 seconds after the Sabres were back to full strength.
    Robby Pustulka's centering pass found Brzezicki streaking toward the net, and he fired the puck past Brunn for a 2-1 lead with just 1:27 left.
    The Sabres pulled Brunn for an extra attacker, but Michels corralled the puck off the stick of PJ Noonan. Michels sent it from the Lawrence zone into the right side of the empty net for a 3-1 lead with 1:11 remaining.
    Lawrence then killed off the final minute of regulation to secure the victory. 
    Nolan Mahaffey had another fine game in net for the Vikings. He stopped 36 shots to pick up his seventh win of the season. Brunn made 24 saves and took the loss.
    Lawrence now has 19 points on the season, and the Vikings are in sixth place, one point ahead of Concordia Wisconsin. Marian and Lake Forest are tied for the eighth, and final, playoff spot with 16 points.
    Lawrence and Marian wrap up the series on Saturday night at the Appleton Ice Center.