Photos by Samantha Davis: Marshall junior forward Jacob Allen brings the puck up the ice in the first period against Minnesota River Saturday afternoon in a Big South Conference game in Marshall. The Tigers fell to the Bulldogs 3-1.

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MARSHALL — Entering the final period tied up with pressure building up, the Marshall boys hockey team came up short in a 3-1 section and Big South Conference loss to Minnesota River Saturday afternoon, after the Bulldogs scored twice in the third period. Junior forward Jacob Allen scored the Tigers’ goal in the second period that initially tied the game up.

The opening period was competitive, both teams going scoreless, as was the second period with the Bulldogs and Tigers each scoring once before Minnesota River finished the night off in the third, and limited the opportunity for overtime.

Minnesota River outshot Marshall 39-11 overall, and senior goalie McCoy Guenther finished the day with his 36 saves and an impressive .923 save percentage.

Saturday’s game also had a bigger meaning, as Marshall hosted its annual Stick it to Cancer night. All players presented a name of a close one currently battling or who previously had the disease, detailing someone they were playing for. A video played throughout intermissions of the players holding up a board with their loved ones’ names.

The Tigers and Bulldogs entered the final period tied with tensions rising, with Marshall looking to snap a five-game skid and Minnesota River fighting to even up its record to .500.

Minnesota River’s Riley Kamm scored the go-ahead goal with 10:40 to go unassisted, and the Bulldogs ultimately put the dagger on their win three minutes later with 7:43 of gameplay left after maintaining control from there on between the neutral zone and in Marshall territory.

Minnesota River originally took the lead in the fifth minute of the second period, and came out with more offensive intensity. The Bulldogs racked up 19 shots while holding Marshall to five in the period.

But, Allen returned the favor and tied the game back up six minutes later with 5:29 to go with an assist from Carson Kopitski, and finished the play taking the puck up the right side of the goal and sending it to the back left while nearing the crease with space.

The opening period set the competitive tone from the jump, with the Bulldogs slightly outshooting the Tigers 8-4.

Kopitski had back-to-back good looks shot attempts midway through the period after Minnesota River held the puck in Marshall territory over the course of a few minutes to break the momentum.

Minnesota River tried to get a goal in the final two minutes with a few consecutive shots, which McCoy Guenther blocked all to prevent the Bulldogs from going into the second period with an edge.

Marshall (1-7) will next take on Windom (2-3) on the road on Monday with a 7 p.m. puck drop.