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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Davenport posted their second straight third period rally but a goal by UM-Flint with 41 seconds to play in overtime was the difference as the 2012-13 season came to a screeching halt on Friday afternoon in the semifinal round of the ACHA D3 National Tournament. Davenport scored three goals in the final 7:19 of regulation including the equalizer with 16.6 seconds to play but their comeback was cut short by UM-Flint who advances to face Adrian in Saturday's national championship game. DU ends their season at 34-6-2-0.

The first period as all the University of Michigan-Flint as the Victors posted three goals in the twenty minutes of play all coming from the 5:38 mark until the 10:13 mark. The last tally came on the penalty-kill after a turnover deep in the defensive zone for the Panthers. DU did however lead 11-10 on shots after twenty minutes of play.

Starting the second, Davenport got the confidence boost they needed just 21 seconds in when Zack Feher pounded home a rebound to cut the lead to just two at 3-1. Credited with the assists were Blake Damerow and Jordan Steger. The shots kept coming for the Panthers but the Flint netminder came up with some huge saves and then his offense put the lead back at three with 6:05 remaining and the period ended with Flint leading by three again.

For the second straight night, DU faced a big lead entering the third period and for the first 12 minutes of the third, it looked as if their national title hopes would come to an end but the momentum started building when Bryon Guerin scored with 7:19 to play to cut the lead to 4-2. Then, just 2:33 later, Daniel Swink scored on a nice play in front of the net to get the Panthers within one.

As the time ticked away, DU got a power play with just under a minute to play and after head coach Chris Green pulled goaltender John Cruse to give the Panthers a six on four advantage, Donald Sund poked a rebound through to tie the game with just 16.6 seconds remaining and the game went into overtime.

With a berth to the national championship game on the line in overtime, neither team took too many chances and the play went back and forth for a majority of the first 15 minutes. Each team then created great scoring chances but the goaltenders came up with some big saves to continue the game. Then with just 41 seconds remaining, a turnover deep in the D zone for Davenport was costly as Flint scored on a loose puck to win 5-4.

The win sends the Victors into Saturday's championship game at 2pm against Adrian-Gold as Davenport concludes their season with an overall record of 34-6-2-0.

Post-Game Notes
Davenport now splits their season series with UM-Flint with each recording a 5-4 win…The Panthers conclude the season with a program best 34 wins…DU was 4-2 in games that went into overtime or shootouts this season…The Panthers outshot the Victors 66-48 but were outshot 21-14 in overtime

Semifinal MATCHUPS: 
UM-Flint 5, Davenport 4 (OT) | Adrian 4, Hope 3
 
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