Men's Ice Hockey (DI) | 9/26/2014 10:10:00 PM

Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Davenport DI hockey team opened up their 2014-15 campaign against the Western Michigan Stallions at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday evening. Andrew Frank scored one goal and chipped in with an assist, but Davenport dropped their season opener 3-2 in a shootout. DU will face Western Michigan again on Saturday night at Patterson Ice Center at 5:30 p.m.
 
Davenport looked strong in the opening eight minutes of the game as they dictated the pace of play. However, Western Michigan was able to break the ice with less than ten minutes left in the first period. The Panthers came storming back and scored two quick special teams goals. Andrew Frank fed the puck to Chris Eckler on a two-on-one break, and Eckler was able to find the back of the net to tie the game.
 
Just a few moments later, Davenport had an abbreviated power play and Frank was able to put home a one-timer and give the Panthers a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission.
 
The second period, saw a lot of back and forth action and neither team was able to take advantage of power play chances. As the physicality started to pick up the Panthers had a couple close chances, and drew a penalty with just over one minute left in the second period. However, the Stallions took advantage and scored a shorthanded goal to tie the game at two heading into the third period.
 
To start the third period, neither team could find the back of the net, as the score remained tied at two. Both teams had chances on special teams, but could not find the back of the net, and the game went into a sudden death overtime period. Neither team was able to score in overtime to send the game into a shootout. In the shootout Western Michigan was able to take the game in the shootout 1-0, and win the game 3-2.
 
After the game head coach Phil Sweeney said, "You never want to lose, but I was thoroughly impressed with the new guys, they played a lot of minutes tonight and played well. We had a ton of really good scoring opportunities, but their goalie made a lot of good saves. I though we played alright, we lost in a shootout and those are 50-50s."
 
The Panthers will be back in the action on Saturday evening when they conclude the home-and-home series at Patterson Ice Center at 5:30 p.m.
 
Post-Game Notes
 
Davenport is now 15-2 against Western Michigan all-time with their last loss coming in February 2012. Andrew Frank was the only Panther to tally more than one point in the game, while Chris Eckler, Luke McCarthy and Travis White each tallied a point.
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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