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Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Patterson Ice Center)
Score: No. 12 Davenport 3, No. 13 Lindenwood 4 (SO)
Records: DU (19-8-0-2), LU (11-13-0-2)
Next DU event: Saturday, Jan. 25 – vs. Lindenwood – 5:30 p.m.
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport D1 hockey team looked to continue their hot start to 2014 and avenge their loss in the second round of the National Tournament from last season as they hosted Lindenwood. DU had a slow start to the game falling behind 2-0, but the team settled in halfway through the first period and cut the lead in half. The Panthers and Lions traded goals in the second period as DU trailed heading into the final period. After pulling the goalie, Matt Kaludis, Luke McCarthy was able to tie the game with eight seconds left for his second of the game and send the game to overtime. DU lost the shoots out 2-1 and Lindenwood took the game 4-3. Both teams will meet again on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. to conclude a weekend series at Patterson Ice Center.
 
DU fell behind early once again as Lindenwood started the scoring just 6:32 into the game as they scored a power play goal, and the Lions followed it up with another goal just three minutes later to take the early 2-0 lead. This was the fourth straight game that the Panthers surrendered the first goal of the game.
 
The Panthers finally settled into the game about halfway through the first period and scored with eight minutes left in the period to cut the lead in half as Mason Bohlinger scored his 12th power play goal of the season, which is second in all od ACHA D1. Andrew Frank and John Brooks tallied assists on the goal, and Frank now has a 14 game point streak.
 
In the second period, Lindenwood killed off a three minutes of penalties and they used that momentum to increase their lead back to two with 14 minutes left in the period. The physicality picked up in the middle period as both team continued to battle, but DU finally struck goal as Luke McCarthy found the back of the net from the bottom of the circle to bring the Panthers back within one heading into the second intermission.
 
The third period started with some back and forth action as both goalies came up with huge saves, and Matt Kaludis stood strong robbing the Lions of multiple scoring chances. The Panthers had some close chances to tie the game, but their chances were sent wide by the Lindenwood net minder.
 
In the final minute of the Panthers pulled Kaludis to get the extra attacker on the ice, and had many close chances in the closing minutes of the game. Luke McCarthy finally capitalized on one of those chances, as he tied the game with eight second left.
 
Davenport dominated the overtime having a few golden opportunities, but they could not muster a goal and the game went into a shootout.
 
In the shoot out Mason Bohlinger was able to score after Lindenwood capitalized on their first penalty in the best of three rounds. In the second round Kody Polin hit the post on a backhand shot, as he looked to tie the shootout at two. Matt Kaludis made a huge stop to keep DU in it, but McCarthy could not tie the shootout as Lindenwood went on to win the shootout 2-1, and walked away with a 4-3 victory.
 
After the game head coach Phil Sweeney talked about his team's determination, "These guys battle hard, they have a lot of heart and never give up. That is what our coaching staff asks of them; always give us there all. Tonight we dug ourselves a little hole, but battle back, and we pulled the goalie and got a goal at the end to send it to overtime. I thought in the third period and especially the overtime we had so many good chances, their goalie made some good saves. All you can ask for is the chances, our guys were in the right spot and we almost won."
 
Sweeney continued to talk about how his team has to rebound heading into game two, "I think the chances we had and the momentum from the third period and overtime, we just have to keep our heads up this is a big time of year. We have to keep our heads up and move forward, we have to have a short memory and take the momentum from late in the game and be ready to go tomorrow."
 
Post-Game Notes
 
This was the Panthers second game of the season that went into a shootout and are now 0-2 in shootouts this season. Matt Kaludis made 27 saves in the game and this was his first loss since November 16, 2013 against Oakland. Luke McCarthy scored two goals in the game for his third multi-goal game of the season, while Andrew Frank had two assists in the game to up his point streak to 14 games. Mason Bohlinger added his 12th power play goal of the season, which is second in the ACHA.
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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