Box Score Photo Gallery

Site: Mentor, Ohio. (Mentor Civic Center)
Score: No. 12 Davenport 3, No. 8 Delaware 4
Records: DU (2-0-0-1), U of D (7-0-0-0)
Next DU event: Saturday, Oct. 12 – vs. Colorado State (in Cleveland, Ohio) – 1:30 p.m.
 
MENTOR, Ohio – The Davenport D1 hockey team played it first game in the ACHA Showcase against No. 8 Delaware. The Panthers would come out strong to take a 3-1 lead in the second. But Delaware would score to goals in late in the second period. The game would stay tied through the third and overtime. The Blue Hen would win the shootout 2-1, to take the game 5-4. The Panthers will be back in action again tomorrow as the take on Colorado State at 1:30 p.m.
 
The first period of the ACHA D1 Showcase was a strong one for the Panthers they were able to play the physical style of play they are a custom to. The Panthers were able to sustain pressure in the Blue Hens zone for a good portion of the period. Matt Ogden and Dustin Wischmeyer had a few chances to put one home but the just missed.
 
Davenport continued to dictate the play of the game, but at the half waypoint of the first period Delaware was able to break through and put a goal on the board.
 
The Panthers would come back five minutes later to tie the score at 1-1. Kevin Noble was able to knock a loose puck that was sitting in the crease past the Blue Hens net minder. Mason Bohlinger and Chris Ballatore were credited for the assist on Noble's goal.
 
The Panthers had the same intensity in the second period as they did in the first. They continued to control the style of play for the majority of the period. Robert Kleiman would catch a pass at the hash marks from Phil Wendecker. Kleiman would snipe the goaltender high glove side to give Davenport a 2-1 lead with 15:36 left in the period.
 
Three minutes later Kleiman would score his second goal of the game after he put in a rebound off a shot from Bo Jacobs. DU would take a 3-1 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining.
 
Delaware would answer back with two goals with less than two minutes left in the second period. Both teams would head into the locker room for the final intermission with the score at 3-3.
 
Delaware used the momentum they picked by scoring to late goals in second to sustain pressure for the first part of the final period. But, Phil Graveline stood strong in net to keep the game tied. Both teams had power play chances but could not score.
 
The Panthers had a late power play in the third but could not put one away. In the overtime period no one could end the game. In the shootout the Blue Hens would take it 2-1 to win by a final score of 4-3.
 
After the game head coach Phil Sweeney said, "It was good game overall, you lose in a shootout it is bittersweet because it was good game, but the boys played hard tonight. Eight minutes of bad hockey costs us tonight. We learned a lot and we have to bounce back."
 
Coach Sweeney talked about the game tomorrow against Colorado State, "Colorado State is a physical team and Delaware got us ready. They exposed a couple weaknesses in our defensive zone, we knew they were there, but we just have to play tougher defensively."
 
The Panthers will be back in actin tomorrow as they take on old D2 rival Colorado State in game two of the ACHA Showcase. The puck drop is at 1:30 p.m.
 
Post-Game Notes
 
Davenport moves to 2-0-0-1 on the season. Robert Kleiman had his first multi-goal game this season. Chris Ballatore picked up his first points of the season. Phil Graveline also picked up a point on Kleiman first goal of the game. Bo Jacobs and Phil Wendecker also picked up assists in the game.
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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