GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - #2 Davenport rolled to their sixth straight win on Saturday evening as they posted an 11-5 win over rival Liberty University. The victory combined with last night's 8-0 shutout, gives the Panthers a four game sweep of the Flames. DU outscored LU 19-5 in two weekend games.
The Panthers exploded in the third period for three goals in the first three minutes as Jonathon Juliano (Clinton Twp, Mich.) completed his hat-trick performance and Matt Morang (Dearborn, Mich.) and Jonathon Frank (Wallingford, Conn.) also scored to help pull the Panthers away from a Liberty team desperate for an upset win.
For the second-straight evening, the Panthers entered the second half of the game with a two-goal lead. In both games, the Panthers were able to separate themselves from their opponent.
Although Liberty struck first, Juliano and Kyle McDowell (Toronto, Ontario) responded for DU as the Panthers lead the Flames 2-1 heading into the first intermission.
Not shaken from their previous night's defeat, Liberty held the game close, despite two goals from Jeff Slusser (Kentwood, Mich.) and tallies from Ben Dykstra (Kentwood, Mich.) and Juliano's second of the game. The Flames were able to take advantage of odd-man rushes given up by the host squad.
A true test of character, the Panthers showed they were up to the task as each time Liberty scored in the second frame, the Panthers responded with goals on the very next shift.
Despite giving up more goals then his average would indicate, goaltender Phil Graveline (Marshall, Mich.) handed in a stellar performance, keeping the Panthers in the game when needed. The freshman netminder ups his record to 15-1 and perfect in ACHA Division I competition.
While the Flames were able to score a goal during a third period powerplay, the Panthers proved superior on special teams, scoring three powerplay goals and, even more impressively, netting two shorthanded.
The Panthers hit the road as they make their second trek to the Sooner state this weekend, taking on the University of Oklahoma in a two-game series. On their way home, the Panthers will face-off in Chicago against the ACHA World University Team, loaning all-time leading scorer Bobby Collar to the national squad, as the team prepares prior to their departure to Turkey.
