Box Score

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Davenport dropped their second consecutive one goal game to Ohio on Saturday night. After a quiet first period that saw Ohio take a 1-0 lead on a penalty shot, the Panthers and Bobcats combined for five goals in the second to send the game into the third tied at three. An early goal and an unlucky empty net goal by Ohio was too much for the Panthers to overcome despite a late goal by Davenport. The Panthers fall to 2-5 on the season with a home and home series coming up next weekend against Western Michigan.

There wasn't much offense in the first period as both goalies played tough in net. The Panthers managed eight shots on goal while the Bobcats had 12. The lone goal in the period came on a penalty shot by Ohio's Michael Schultz.

Davenport got off to a quick start in the second period getting a goal just over a minute in from Kevin Noble to tie the game at one. Noble had a wide open net after a pass from Phil Wendecker in the opposite corner.

However, it didn't take long for Ohio to counter. Just a minute and a half after the Noble goal, Ohio's Josh Fodor scored to give the Bobcats back the lead. Ohio pushed that lead to two just a minute later after a Tyler Pilmore goal.

Davenport finished the second period strong getting goals from Taylor Keyworth and Ben Dykstra to pull the Panthers even with Ohio through two periods. Keyworth knocked in a long rebound for his unassisted goal. Dykstra got a pass from Phil Wendecker near mid-ice and took it the rest of the way, scoring on a shot from about 15 feet away.

Entering the third period tied at three, the Panthers fell in an early hole. Ohio's Tyler Pilmore scored on a power play, his second goal of the game, four minutes into the period to give Ohio the goal advantage. 

With just over a minutes to play in the game, Davenport got an unlucky break. With Davenport's net empty and the puck sliding deep into the Panthers end, a Davenport and Ohio player were racing to the puck when their skates got tangles up which allowed Ohio's Pilmore to get to the puck and knock in the empty net goal to complete his hat-trick. 

Facing a two goal deficit the Panthers didn't give up and a Bo Jacobs goal with 50 seconds left gave Davenport new life. Davenport had a couple more chances but wouldn't be able to get anything past the Ohio netminder.

Davenport continues to struggle on the power play, coming into tonight game Davenport had just four power play goals and were unable to capatilize on the six power play opportunities tonight inlcuding a 5-on-3 power play in the middle of the third.

In goal for Davenport was Phil Graveline. Graveline made 19 saves while allowing four goals in the loss.

Davenport will next be in action when hey travel to Western Michigan on Friday night before returning home to take on Western Michigan on Saturday night.

Post-Game Notes

This is the first time Davenport has lost consecutive games at home since the middle of the 2009-10 season...Davenport drops to 2-5 on the season...Davenport is now 4-3 all-time against Ohio.