Box Score GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport DI hockey team looked to spilt the weekend series with Western Michigan, but the Panthers comeback fell short against the Stallions and lost the game 3-2. Luke McCarthy and Everett Thompson were the goal scorers for Davenport. The Panthers will now hit the road for the next four games as they begin the road trip in University Heights, Ohio against John Carroll on Friday at 8:10 p.m.
 
To open the game both teams started, and for the second consecutive night Davenport was able to seize control of the game in the early going. The physicality started to pick up as Davenport and Western Michigan were crashing the net hard looking for loose pucks. The Stallions capitalized on a power play opportunity with just over five minutes left in the opening stanza to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
 
The Panthers looked to start their comeback early in the second period, and Everett Thompson was able to pick up a loose puck in slot and beat the Western Michigan net minder to tie the game at one. A few moments later, Western Michigan found themselves on a power play and cashed in on the opportunity to regain the lead. The rest of the period saw up-and-down action with neither team scoring a goal and the Stallions took a 2-1 into the locker room.
 
Western Michigan came out strong in the opening minutes of the third period and scored an early goal to increase their lead to two goals. The Panthers were searching for a little offense to try and build some momentum late in third period, and Luke McCarthy tallied his first goal of the year to cut the deficit to one. DU was unable to find an equalizer late in the third period and dropped the game 3-2.
 
After the game head coach Phil Sweeney talked about what he learned about his team and how they will adjustments going forward, "There is a lot of fight in out team, we play physical and hard to go along with a lot of speed. We are just going to have to find some lines that work and gel together. Loses sting, but every time you lose you have to get better and work harder at practice. We study John Carroll and move forward from there.
 
The Panthers will start a four game road trip next weekend when they travel to Ohio to face John Carroll and then will have a week off before they travel to out east to face Liberty.
 
Post-Game Notes
 
Everett Thompson scored his first collegiate goal and point tonight in the loss. Davenport out shot Western Michigan 30-21 in the game. Cody Walsh picked up the only assist for the Panthers in the game. This is just the second time since Davenport moved to the Division 1 level that they have dropped the first two games of the season.
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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