D1 Hockey National Tournament Page | Sweeney Interview

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – The Panthers opened the 2012 ACHA D1 Hockey National Tournament with a 4-1 win over Drexel University. Davenport never trailed in the game but wasn't able to pull away from Drexel until late in the third period. Davenport will take on the third-seed Delaware Saturday at 2:00 PM.
 
Both teams came out fast and physical and were able to keep that pace up for most of the game. The first period gave both teams several opportunities to score but it was the Panthers who struck first when Ben Dykstra put a shot in the top right corner off a pass from Brock Carlston with 17 seconds remaining in the period.
 
Five minutes into the second period, Norm Farr was tripped from behind on a breakaway. Choosing the penalty shot over the power play, Farr made one fake to the right before burying the puck in the net to give the Panthers a two goal lead.
 
With just less than ten minutes remaining in the second period, Drexel got on the board with a goal by Ross Dentzi to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Panthers heading into the second intermission.
 
Drexel came out firing in the third period but Davenport goalie Phil Graveline had one of his best showings this season in net for the Panthers to keep Davenport in the lead. Davenport got some breathing room with 3:56 left in the game when Ben Dysktra took the puck the length of the ice and scored the unassisted goal to put the Panthers up 3-1.
 
Phil Wendecker would add an empty net goal to seal 4-1 for the win for the Panthers. Phil Graveline allowed one goal on 42 Drexel shots in the win.
 
Davenport will now take on the third-seed Delaware Blue Hens in the second round of the ACHA D1 National Tournament on Saturday, March 3^rd at 2:00 PM. The winner of this match-up will take on the winner of the Ohio/Illinois match-up.
 
Post-Game Quotes – Head Coach Phil Sweeney
 
Thoughts on game – “We had to do what we had to do to win the game. It wasn't the prettiest thing in the world but it's the national tournament and you're going to have games were the puck bounces over the stick or guys have breakdowns. To their credit, Drexel played us tough. They played their system, had odd-man rushes and Graveline came up big when he needed to.”
 
On senior leadership – “That's how you win these things, Seniors have ot play big. You're not going to anything if your horses aren't going. Dystra getting  two and Wendecker getting the empty netter, there's your captain right there. And Farr, that's why we brought him up, he had a good career at D3 but he's so explosive with the puck and in the open ice. He drew a penalty shot and went up there and buried it blocker side.”
 
On play of Phil Graveline – “He was as good as he has been all year. Every time we had a breakdown, he stepped up and made the big saves. Some of the were pretty acrobatic and some were from the boards but when he needed to make a big save, he did. If we are going to win, it's going to be because he plays well and the team plays better defensively.”
 
Post-Game Notes
 
This was the first meeting between Davenport and Drexel…This was the seventh game this season that Davenport held their opponent to one goal or less…Davenport will take on Delaware in the second round.