GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport women's hockey team will kick off their 2014-15 season this weekend with back-to-back away games against Midland University. This will be the second campaign for Tom Hofman and his Lady Panthers as they come off a difficult inaugural season last year going 6-12 in the CCWHA, and 6-22 overall. Davenport ended last season with a tough 0-1 loss to Michigan State in the CCWHA playoffs, and finished the season ranked 14^th in the ACHA polls. Davenport will travel to Fremont, Nebraska this weekend for two games against the Warriors of Midland. The puck is scheduled to drop at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Games 1 & 2
At Midland University
Date: Friday, September 26, and Saturday, September 27, 2014
Puck Drop: 8:30 p.m. (Friday) and 1 p.m. (Saturday).
Location: Fremont, Neb. (Sidner Ice Arena)
 
Scouting Midland
 
Midland University enters their third year as a program in 2014 under first year head coach Shelby Edwards. Edwards joined Midland after spending four years on the coaching staff with the Brookings Rangers. The Warriors' roster is full of youth this year, as it consists of 11 freshman and just 2 sophomores. This will be the first time the Panthers and Warriors meet in their team's history.
 
Scouting Davenport
 
No. 12 Davenport returns seven players from last year's team, whom are highlighted by sophomores Lexie Boydston, Chantal Caraher, and Darian Adams. Boydston led the Panthers with 25 goals scored last year, while Caraher was second with 22. However, Caraher did lead the team with 43 total points and 21 assists. Victoria Smishek will be behind the net for the Panthers as she looks to improve upon her .864 save percentage from a year ago.
 
Previewing the Schedule
 
The Panthers will open the season on the road for their first eight games of the season, all being back-to-back games with Midland, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Miami (Ohio). Davenport will then return home on November 14 to play a home-and-home series with Grand Valley State. Davenport will see a majority of their home games in 2015, for nine of their ten games are at the Patterson Ice Center.

Women's Ice Hockey Contact: Paul Anderson | 616-889-4062 | panderson30@davenport.edu
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