Box Score Box Score | Clarkson Audio Interview | Cross Audio Interview

PONTIAC, Mich. - Davenport overcame an early 5-goal deficit but they came up one goal short as they fell 13-12 in double-overtime to MCLA DI No. 6 Michigan State on Saturday in their season opener.  The DII No. 1 ranked Panthers outscored the Spartans 10-5 after a rough start to force overtime, but the loss sends the team to 0-1 on the year.
 
After a slow start from both teams, the Panthers were the first one to get on the board when Mac Ganzak took the ball the length of the field and scored to put DU up 1-0. The Spartans however answered with four straight goals (three in the first and one to start the second) to take a 4-1 lead.
 
Cody Cross broke the run at the 12:11 mark of the second but the Spartans again used great ball movement on offense to rip off three straight for a commanding 7-2 lead with 7:25 to play in the half.  That was when the tides turned however as DU finished the opening half on a 3-0 run with goals from Jordan Richtsmeier, Taylor Keyworth and Chapin White to trail by just two, 7-5 at halftime.
 
Michigan State increased their lead to 10-7 entering the final 15 minutes of play with DU getting tallies from Lyle Parks and Jack Turcotte. Davenport showed toughness in the fourth as they outscored the Spartans 5-2 in the final quarter to tie the game at 12 at the end of regulation. Getting the game-tying goal was Lyle Parks with just over a minute to play.
 
The Panthers then had one more chance in regulation but could not get a clean shot and the game went into overtime.  Each team had their opportunities in the extra frames, but the Spartans got the game winner with 1:09 remaining in the second extra frame to post the win.
 
Parks and Cross led the Panthers with three goals apiece wile Alexis Buque suffered the defeat in net as the sophomore posted four saves on the night.
 
Post-Game Quotes - Bob Clarkson and Cody Cross
 
Clarkson on impressions from first game:  “We dug ourselves into a hole and being down 7-2, I thought our guys came back strong and with our experience from the national tournament helped to fight back.  You have to be put in those situations to become better and our guys came back strong.”
 
Cross on moving forward into next game: We need to come out with more intensity and that starts in practice.  We have been slacking a little and we just need to come out with more focus from the start”
 
Post-Game Notes
 
Davenport is now 0-2 all-time against Michigan State as they lost to the Spartans in 2008 by the score of 24-9…Davenport is currently ranked No. 1 in MCLA DII while Michigan State is No. 6 in MCLA DI…It marks the first loss in the 5-year history of the program in a season opener