Dec. 5, 2009

Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport D2 Hockey team continues to struggle this season as they fell 7-6 on Friday night to Western Michigan at Patterson Ice Center. DU has lost its last two games and six out of its last eight to fall to 12-9 on the year.

The two teams were all offense for the first two periods as Adam Thomas (Kentwood, Mich.) got things started just 1:39 into the game and after a WMU goal just over a minute later, Aaron Warsen (Kentwood, Mich.) notched his second goal of the season to put DU up 2-1.

The back and forth affair continued as Western scored to tie the game at 2-2, but the Panthers responded with a goal from Brit Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario) about halfway through the first. But again less than a minute later, WMU scored to tie the game and the two teams went into the first intermission deadlocked at 3-3.

Western came out on fire in the second period and scored three straight goals to lead the Panthers by three at 6-3, but then DU caught fire and scored back to back goals just 1:07 apart from Ben Dykstra (Kentwood, Mich.), and Paul Ziemke (Caledonia, Mich.).

Trailing 6-5 entering the third, DU came out focused to take care of WMU but the opposing netminder was solid for the final twenty minutes unlike that of the Panthers as DU allowed a breakaway goal with just under 4:00 to play to trail by two (7-5).

With the Panther goaltender pulled, Kevin Brojek (Sterling Heights, Mich.) scored to get DU within one but it would be the final goal of the game as the Panthers were unable to get the game-tying goal.

Scott Knight (Grand Rapids, Mich.) took the loss in net dor Davenport as his season record falls to 9-5.

The loss to Western is the first for Davenport since the 2003-2004 season when WMU defeated DU 5-3 on January 9 of 2004.

Davenport and Western will hook up on Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 faceoff in Kalamazoo before DU returns to GMHL action next weekend when they host Ohio State on Friday and Saturday.