Box Score STRONGSVILLE, Ohio. – The Davenport division I Hockey team opened up the 2015 national championships with a bang Thursday afternoon as they defeated no. 19 seed Villanova 11-2. Cameron Dimmitt led the way for the Panthers with four goals on the day. Travis White also recorded a hat trick for Davenport, with two of those goals coming in the first period. The Panthers will now shift their focus to No. 3 Minot State as they dive right back into action with second round action starting at 11 a.m.
 
The Panther offense exploded for seven first period goals as five different panthers found the back f the net in the first 20 minutes of play, including two from White and Dimmitt. Mason Bohlinger also recorded a goal and racked up two assists in the period alone.
 
White then completed his hat trick with 10:04 left in the second period to increase the Panther lead to 8-1, and Luke McCarthy netted his second goal of the game sending the Panthers into the second intermission with 9-1 lead.
 
Dimmitt was the only Panther to record goals in the third, scoring two to give him a total of four on the game.
 
Stephen Flood and Everett Thompson combined for five assists in the game, with three of those dishes coming from Flood.
 
Matt Kaludis had a strong game between the pipes for the Panthers recording 24 saves on 26 shots in the 11-2 Davenport victory.
 
"We were explosive today". Said head coach Phil Sweeney when asked of his team's Thursday performance. "We came into the tournament pretty hot and we continued to roll.  I am very excited to move on and play Minot. They are one of the best teams in the country and it should be a great game".
 
The Panthers hit the ice again tomorrow at 11 a.m. against No. 3 Minot State for a chance to advance to the quarterfinals of the national championships.
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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