Oct. 9, 2009

Box Score

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - A late rally after a poor first period was not enough to lift DU to an upset win over Saginaw Valley State on Friday night. The ACHA D3 defending National Champion Cardinals scored four opening period goals as they defeated DU 7-6.

Facing the defending national champions on the road was hard enough, but the Panthers went into the game without a few of their top players due to disciplinary issues and that directly affected the opening period as SVSU led 4-1 after one.

The only DU goal in the opening period was Jordan Steger's (Caledonia, Mich.) on assists from Andy Holtrop (Walker, Mich.) and Brandon Madaj (Newaygo, Mich.).

After Saginaw increased the lead to four with a quick goal in the second period, DU clawed their way back into the game with three straight goals. Zack Feher (Livonia, Mich.) scored the first goal, Teddy VanVliet (Byron Center, Mich.) the second and Mac Worsley (Grand Rapids, Mich.) the third to cut the lead to just 5-4.

Trailing by just a single goal, Head Coach Chris Green led a fired up team into the third but again DU was put on their heels as the Cardinals scored two straight goals in the first four minutes to hold a comfortable three goal lead.

The Panthers did not quit fighting as Holtrop scored his second of the game at the 13 minute mark on passes from Feher and VanVliet. Davenport struck once more very soon after that on a sweet goal from Steger to cut the lead back to just one.

It was all they could muster up though as the Cardinals escaped with the 7-6 win.

The loss sends DU to 2-3 on the year as they will host Saginaw on Saturday at 7:00 PM at Patterson Ice Center. The game will be broadcast live on the DAN beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 as Tom Biondo will have the live play by play.

Click here for a direct link to the game.