Box Score Site: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Score: Davenport University 5, Hope College 2
Records: DU (21-5-0-1), HC (19-2-0-1)
Next DU event: Saturday, February 1st at 9:00 p.m. V.S. Hope College in Holland, Mich.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Panthers kept the crowd on its feet with a dazzling home performance against Hope College where they came out on top 5-2. A huge first period that ended with a 4-1 lead in the Panthers favor put them on track for the remainder of the game. These two teams have a night to rest and a day to prepare for a late game starting at 9:00 p.m. tomorrow in Holland for round two of the series.

The Panthers came prepared to play tonight and began their control of the first period when Branden Burton caught a pass from Donald Sund and slipped the puck past Hopes goalie just two minutes and thirty four seconds into period one. Hope was able to tie the game up three minutes later but DU immediately responded with a Sund goal that gave them back the lead. Dugan Kelley increased Davenport's lead to 3-1 with the completion of a sweet passing play in which Cody Mathieu received the assist. Zack Feher gave the Panthers a last minute goal that ended the period on a high note; his first goals sense his return from an injury absence.

Neither the Flying Dutchmen nor Davenport found the back of the net in the second but John Cruse kept the Panthers lead at 4-1 with huge saves and a constant flow of plays that stumped Hope's offense. The huge hits and continuous shots showed how bad DU wanted tonight's victory.

Hope generated some offensive success with a third period goal that brought them back into the game with 15 minutes remaining. Twelve minutes nail-biting minutes went by before Jordan Steger caught a pass from Blake Damerow that gave the Panthers the final edge they needed to take the win home.

The battle between these two teams with continue tomorrow when Hope College hosts DU for a late night game that begins at 9:00 p.m. in Holland.

D3 Ice Hockey Contact: Ryan Clarkson | 616-745-9420 | rclarkson1@davenport.edu
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