OXFORD, Ohio – The Women's Hockey team traveled a little south for a pair of matchups against the Redhawks of Miami University. Davenport looked to come out with a better performance than they had last Sunday against Liberty. Miami was coming off a pair of close games against Michigan State. Miami had only won twice since the beginning of November.
 
Friday, December 7
Final Score: Davenport 1 – Miami 5
Records: #15 DU (2-9), #6 MU (10-4-1)
Location: Goggin Ice Arena (Oxford, Ohio)
 
LEADING EARLY
The first period was a very even period for both teams. Neither of which could muster up a whole lot of offense in the first 20 minutes. Despite only putting five shots on net, Courtney Mulligan opened the scoring with her fifth of the season, with the assist coming from Hailey Williams, and Davenport led the Redhawks into the first intermission.
 
NOT FOR LONG
It was looking good for DU, leading after one. However, the Mulligan goal seemed to light a fire under the Redhawks, and their offense came out buzzing in the second. Miami fired 13 shots on goaltender Julia Gaynor in the middle stanza. Their pressure was rewarded as Miami's leading scorer Sara Gargasz tied the game with her 16^th of the season. A few minutes later, Amanda Pugliese found the back of the net to give the Redhawks the lead. Even though the Redhawks dominated the second period, the Panthers only found themselves trailing by a single goal heading into the third.
 
SPREADING THINGS OUT
Davenport tried to keep it close against the Redhawks, but it was not to be. Pugiliese scored her second of the game, just passed the halfway mark to make it a two-goal game. Gargasz scored her second of the game, and Audra Vanroboys capped off the scoring in the final minute of play. Miami would take the first of two games by a 5-1 score.
 
Saturday, December 8
Final Score: Davenport 0 – Boston 7
Records: #15 DU (2-10), #6 MU (11-4-1)
 
A REDHAWK SWARM
Miami carried their success from Friday into Saturday afternoon's contest. Maizy Crandall scored just after the halfway mark to kick off the scoring with her fifth of the season. 33 seconds later, it was Gargasz lighting the lamp once again, as her third goal of the weekend put Miami 2-0, a lead they would carry into the second period.
 
Davenport put themselves into plenty of penalty trouble in the second period, and the Redhawks made them pay. Laken Kunz and Amanda Ballestero put DU down 5-on-3, and it was Katie Scales scoring both power play goals, just 25 seconds apart to double the Miami lead. Pugliese continued her impressive weekend with a tally later on the period, and Emily Sloan fired home her ninth goal of the season just a few minutes later.
 
The lone goal in the final period came just passed the four-minute mark, as Vanroboys scored her fourth goal of the season to seal the deal, and the Redhawks would complete the sweep of the Panthers with a 7-0 victory.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
The Panthers will wrap up 2018 with a pair of games against Robert Morris (Ill.). The Eagles are ranked #14 in the country, and are coming off a tough weekend against #3 Lindenwood-Belleville. The Panthers are 3-8-1-1 all-time against the Eagles. Both games will be at Patterson Ice Center. Saturday night's meeting will be at 9:30 p.m., with the Sunday morning matchup set for 11:00 a.m.
 
Story by: Tyler Kuehl
 
Picture credit: Alexis Hoffman