Jan. 20, 2010
Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. - DU battled the ACHA's top ranked Lindenwood Lions tonight in Tempe, AZ and came away with 5-4 win in a shootout. The win lifts the Panthers to 20-11 on the year as they will take on LU again on Wednesday night at 9:30 EST
In a battle of the ACHA's top two teams from a year ago, the Lions got on the board first in the opening period when they scored 3:15 in to go up 1-0. DU came right back though on a great breakaway goal from Matt Morang (Dearborn, Mich.).
The goal by Morang came after a great clearing pass from the defensive zone of DU and Matt faked one way on the Lion's net minder and went to his backhand for the game tying goal.
Late in the opening period, with only 5:14 remaining, LU got a leg up when they converted an even strength goal right after they killed a DU power play and the Lions took the lead heading into the second 2-1.
Coming out in the second twenty minutes was a little sloppy for the Panthers as LU increased the lead to a two goal margin after the Panthers misplayed a puck in their own end and allowed a shorthanded goal from Lindenwood.
DU got the mistake handed right back to them just 1:39 later as the LU goaltender tried to clear a puck up the center of the ice but Chad Rutzel was there to knock it down and he practically walked right in to get the score to within a single goal at 3-2.
The two goalies took over for the remainder of the 2nd period as they were able to keep the score at a one goal difference heading into the final 20 minutes.
Opening the third period, DU needed a strong start and that they got when Brit Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario) connected on a beautiful play from Bobby Collar (Brighton, Mich.) to tie the game at 3-3.
The Panthers then took the lead 4-3 when Morang scored his second of the night with only 4:32 remaining. As DU killed off a LU power play with just over two minutes to go, a Lion was able to get the puck on net and it was knocked in to tie the game sending it into overtime.
After a scoreless overtime, the two teams went to a shootout that would feature three guys from each squad. Clay Mattson (Livonia, Mich.) got things started with the first goal that was matched by the Lions. Adam Thomas (Kentwood, Mich.) then gave DU a 2-1 advantage which was upheld by a save from Scott Knight (Grand Rapids, Mich.).
After the third DU player was unable to put the game away, it came back to Knight in net who came up with his second straight big save to preserve the 6-5 shootout victory for the Panthers.
The loss is only the 3rd of the year for Lindenwood as they fall to 28-3 on the season.
Davenport and Lindenwood will tangle again on Wednesday night beginning at 9:30 PM EST. The DAN will unfortunately not be on hand to broadcast the game but we will be providing live updates on twitter as we get them from Tempe.
