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Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Patterson Ice Center)
Score: No. 13 Davenport 6, Kent State 2
Records: DU (15-8-0-1), KSU (6-16-0-0)
Next DU event: Friday, Jan. 10 – vs. Eastern Michigan – 8:30 p.m.
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport D1 hockey team looked to use the momentum from Friday nights win into the second game of the weekend series against Kent State. The Panthers stared fast taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission on goals by Josh Munford, Mason Bohlinger and Kody Polin. However, Kent State looked to make a comeback scoring a goal in the second and the third period. Cody Walsh stopped the Golden Flash run with a power play goal halfway through the third period. The DU poured it getting goals from Bohlinger and Chris Eckler to win the game 6-2. DU will host Eastern Michigan next weekend for a Friday night game at 8:30 p.m. and a Saturday night game at 5:30 p.m. both at Patterson Ice Center.
 
In the first period the Panthers tried to take of the control of the game and they did just that as they were able to hold the puck in the Kent State end and Josh Munford finally broke through with a goal to give DU a 1-0 lead. Kent State was able to gain some momentum as they had a power play chance but the Davenport penalty kill held the lead.
 
After the killed penalty Mason Bohlinger increased the Panther lead to two goals as he jumped on a puck in the slot and buried it. Kody Polin increased the DU lead with three minutes left in the first to tally his first collegiate goal as the Panthers took a 3-0 lead after the first period.
 
Davenport took an early penalty in the second period and Kent State was able to capitalize on the power play chance to make it a 3-1 game. After the Kent State goal the Panthers were able to get back in the offensive attack, but they could not get one by the Golden Flash net minder. After the second period DU took a 3-1 lead into the final intermission.
 
DU took another penalty as was able to kill it, but the Golden Flashes had a breakaway right after the penalty and they were able to capitalized on the scoring chance to make it a 3-2 game with 14 minutes left in the game. With ten minutes left in regulation Cody Walsh was able to increase the Panther lead back to two on blast from the point. Mason Bohlinger iced the game for the Panthers with 4:11 left on a power play goal.
 
Chris Ballatore sent the tone down the stretch with some big hits as the Panthers started to pull away. DU scored two more goals in the final minutes highlighted by Chris Eckler's first collegiate as DU went on to win 6-2.
 
After the head coach Phil Sweeney talked about his teams play this weekend, "We were very physical all weekend long. We had some extremely big hits down the stretch both games. I was impressed how we played both games especially in the offensive zone and we have some stuff to clean up defensively, but we were very physical. Our power play was also a great key for us going 4-on-4 on the power play."
 
The Panthers will be back on the ice next weekend for two games at home against Eastern Michigan. The first game is on Friday at 8:30 p.m. followed by a 5:30 p.m. puck on Saturday at Patterson Ice Center.
 
Post-Game Notes
 
Phil Graveline picked up the win in net with 25 saves and is now 9-7-0 on the year and moves the Panthers to 15-8-0-1. Andrew Frank picked up two more assists in the game to increase his point streak to nine games. Chris Eckler and Kody Polin scored their first collegiate goals in the game. Dustin Wischmeyer, Luke McCarthy, Matt Ogden, Phil Wendecker, Mason Bohlinger and Andrew Frank all picked assists in the game.
 
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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