CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – In a rarity, the Yellowjacket men's hockey team played a neutral site game Tuesday evening, heading to the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake to take on Marian University.
 
The game was played at the Crystal Ice House, home ice to a youth hockey association with the nickname of the Yellow Jackets. Former UW-Superior standout Casey VanDamme was instrumental in the association's creation, and has been a longtime supporter of youth sports in the area. To honor one of the program's all-time greats, the Yellowjackets and Sabres faced off in a non-conference contest in front of an arena filled with young hockey players.

Unfortunately, the Yellowjackets couldn't pull off a win in front of the Yellow Jackets.

Marian scored the go-ahead goal with just 1:12 to play in the third period and held on for a 3-2 win Tuesday night.
 
Things got off to an ominous start when Yellowjacket goaltender Myles Hektor (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest), fresh off a shutout against Stevens Point Saturday, came off the ice during the warmup and wasn't able to play. Nick Althaus (St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo) was pressed into duty, making his second start of the season. He made 24 saves on 27 shots and took the loss, having his record fall to 1-1-0 on the year.
 
Marian got the scoring started early when Brady Lynn one-timed a shot from the left circle past Althaus to make it 1-0 at 5:05 of the first period.
 
It stayed that way until the game was almost at the midpoint. The Yellowjackets (4-3-0, 2-1-0 WIAC), who had endured an 0-for-13 stretch on the power play, finally broke through with the man advantage to draw even. Dylan Johnson (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet Senior) scored his fifth of the season, rifling a slap shot from the right circle past Marian goaltender Colby Muise at 8:46 of the second period to make it a 1-1 game. Artur Terchiyev (Kiev, Ukraine/Everest Academy) and Jordan Martin (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey Collegiate) assisted.
 
Marian moved back in front at 6:52 of the third period when Matteo Pechhio got a loose puck on a scramble in front and scored to make it 2-1.
 
Once again the Yellowjackets came back, and again it was the power play getting it done. Johnson took the shot that was stopped in front, but Chad Lopez (Arlington, Texas/University of Texas) pounced on the rebound and punched it past Muise at 8:16, tying the game 2-2.
 
The Yellowjackets had a couple close calls in the third period to take the lead, but weren't able to pull in front. Then, late in the third Marian got the break it needed and Nick Cherkowski scored on a wrist shot from the right circle to give the Sabres their third lead of the game.

With 1:06 to play the Yellowjackets pulled Althaus and had a couple scrambles in tight, but they weren't able to tie the game and force overtime.
 
The Yellowjackets outshot Marian 33-27 in the game and won the special teams battle, going 2-for-8 on the power play and a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.
 
Next up for the Yellowjackets is a return to WIAC play. They will host UW-River Falls at Wessman Arena Friday, Dec. 3. The opening faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m.