The Dordt Defenders defeated the Marian Sabres by a score of 5-1 on Friday night in the Vernon Arena in Sioux Center, Iowa.
The Defenders opened up the scoring just three minutes into the game off a goal scored by Noah WIlmes, assisted by Lucas Van Berkel and Taylor De Jager. The Defenders possessed the puck in the Sabres' defensive zone where Van Berkel passed it across the blue line to De Jager who put a shot up and the loose puck found Wilmes with a look at goal from a few feet away.
Ryler Schelle scored the second goal of the game off of passes from Griffin Lennes and Davis Nelson with 15:46 left in the first period. It was a bit chaotic in the Sabres' defensive zone but the Defenders came out with puck after fighting through contact. Lennes poked the puck out towards the blue line where Davis Nelson fired a pass to a wide open Schelle. Schelle fired the puck to the near post past goalie, Noah Banes. The Defenders went into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.
The Defenders scored first in the second period with 8:08 left. Griffin Lennes scored his team leading 14th goal of the season off of passes from  Ryler Schelle and Mason Carrels. The Defenders controlled the puck after a series of shots and saves. Carrels passed the puck across the ice to Schelle who quickly passed it to Lennes on the back post near the crease. Griffin didn't do much but redirect it on goal to extend the Defender lead.
The Sabres' got one back with 2:30 to play in the second. Jackson Sweeney scored the only goal of the game for the Sabres off a pass from Levi Olson.
Alex Espenson got the lead right back up to three with a goal with 13:56 left in the game. Griffin Lennes credited with the assist. Lennes took the puck near the post and dumped it right in front of the crease where Espenson was waiting and put the fourth goal of the game in for the Defenders.
The Defenders closed out the game with a goal scored by Isaac Bedwell, assisted by Taylor De Jager, with 1:50 left in the game. De Jager found Bedwell near the goal and Bedwell shot it passed the goalie for the fifth and final goal of the game.
The Defenders improve their record to 11-3-0 and are on an eight game win streak. The Defenders will finish out the series against Marian tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm in the Vernon Arena in Sioux Center.Â
