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Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Patterson Ice Center)
Score: No. 18 Davenport 3, No. 5 Liberty 1
Records: DU (8-6-0-1), LU (17-3-0-0)
Next DU event: Friday, Nov. 22 – at Eastern Michigan – 7:30 p.m.
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After being swept last weekend and losing the first two games to cross state rival Oakland the D1 Hockey team faced another rival in No. 5 Liberty. After the Flames took the first two games of the Blue-Gray Cup the Panthers look avoid a season sweep, and they did just that in defeating Liberty 3-1. Phil Graveline was stellar in net making 32 saves, and Phil Wendecker, Stephen Flood and Matt Ogden all scored goals in the win. DU will be back on the ice Friday night as they travel to Ypsilanti, Mich. to play against Eastern Michigan at 7:30 p.m.
 
In the third and final game of the Blue-Gray Cup, Davenport looked to avoid a season sweep of Liberty and they looked to come out fast and break the ice early. There was a lot of intensity from both teams in the game to start, and Liberty scored first to break the ice with 3:39 left in the period.
 
Phil Wendecker came back 20 seconds later to take the momentum back for the Panthers and tie the game at one goal apiece heading into the first intermission.
 
The second period started quick as Stephen Flood was awarded a penalty shot after being slashed on a breakaway. Flood converted on the penalty shot after a nice forehand-backhand move to deke the goalie and give DU a 2-1 lead. Seven minutes later Matt Ogden scored to increase the DU lead to two and the Panthers held that lead into the locker room for the second intermission.
 
In final period Phil Graveline stood on his head to keep the game at 3-1 in favor of the Panthers, and as the intensity picked up Graveline and the special teams unit came up big to keep the lead. As the game winded down DU was able to put together good special teams to beat the Flames 3-1.
 
After the game head coach Phil Sweeney talked about getting back on the winning track, "It feels good after losing to one of your biggest rivals, it is always great to back into a game as fast as you can, especially against a top five team. That is our biggest win of the year, the guys played positioanlly great and it showed."
 
Sweeney continued to talk about the goaltending performance of Phil Graveline, "When he is healthy there is no one better, he has been healthy for the most part this year, and I do not know why he is not going to the World University Games, if there is some one better than Phil Graveline than I must have missed them play hockey, because showed again tonight that he is the best."
 
The Panthers have two more games this weekend as they head to Ypsilanti, Mich. to take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles for two games; game one is Friday at 7:30 p.m.
 
Post-Game Notes
 
Phil Graveline made 32 saves as the Panthers outshot the Flames 36-33, and DU has outshot their opponent in their last seven games. Phil Wendecker added his team leading eight goals, while Matt Ogden and Stephen Flood both score there second goals of the season. DU moves to 8-6-0-1 on the season and Graveline has 5-5 record in the net.
 
 
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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