FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The D3 Hockey Program struggled last weekend against the daunting offense from Ferris State. However, with a near comeback last Saturday, DU looked to try and take that momentum in the weekend set with Warriors. Indiana Tech looked to avenge last year's first round upset in the MCHC Playoffs.
Friday, January 25
Final Score: Davenport 6 – Indiana Tech 7
Records: #19 DU (2-12-1), #12 ITU (9-10-2)
Location: Patterson Ice Center (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
TOUGH START
Davenport started the game with a couple chances early in the contest, however Indiana Tech would be the ones to strike first. After a good forecheck from Jordan Reese, he found Bear Ross wide-open in the slot. Reese fed a perfect pass, and Ross one-timed his 19
th of the season passed
Austen Strauss to give the Warriors the 1-0 lead. Just 35 seconds later, Connor Barney drove down the right wing side, cut right the front of the DU crease, and slid a shot underneath Strauss for his ninth of the season, and just like that the Warriors were up two.
The Panthers would be able to answer back with a goal of their own.
Parker Schmitt would put home his first of the season after
Charlie Bonser won an offensive zone face off, and DU was back within one.
SPECIAL PROBLEMS
Later in the first, while playing four-aside,
Hunter Tolsdorf took a penalty, and DU would be forced to try and kill off a 4-on-3 penalty kill. However, the Warriors would cash in, after Reese's point shot was stopped by Strauss, Strauss mishandled the rebound, and Barney would bang in the loose puck to give Indiana Tech the two-goal lead once again. Davenport would get a power play after Tyler Lantzsch took a penalty. The Panthers were not able to cash in, and after Lantzsch stepped on the ice, Robert Frieson with a breakaway pass, and despite a strong backcheck from
Shawn Marschall, Lantzsch was able to put one over the shoulder of Strauss to give the Warriors 4-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
A BIT OF A SCUFFLE
Jacob Mofield replaced Strauss to start period number two. Just over two minutes into the period, Reese drove the side of the net, and ran into Mofield. Chaos ensued with players from both sides were involved in altercations. At the end of it all, AJ Papcunik and Mofield were kicked out of the game for DU, while Sam Delvescovo was sent to the showers for Indiana Tech.
Davenport was forced back onto the penalty kill, and
Jordan Tafel came in net for DU. His first shot against was not an easy one, as Ross found the loose puck after a blocked shot, turned and fired home his second of the game to put Indiana Tech by five.
TURNING THE PLAY
With Mofield's penalty being a five-minute major, Davenport had to stay down a man. Coach Sikkenga chose to throw out for defencemen, and the strategy paid off.
Nick Fennessy caused a turnover at the DU blueline, took the puck down the left wing, and tucked a shot passed the Warriors' Chris Boyd to make it a 5-2 game. Indiana Tech would score another power play goal just over minute later, as a Reese point shot beat a screened Tafel, and the Warriors restored their four-goal lead.
Despite the deficit, DU started to pick up the offense. Even though they were not able to score for the remainder of the period, they had built some momentum heading into the third period.
CLAWING BACK
The Panthers came out inspired in the final 20 minutes, and their intensity earned them a goal just over five minutes in. After
Brendan Schievink laid a huge hit on Lantzsch, Marschall jumped on the loose puck and put in his first of the season to put the Panthers back within three. Just a couple minutes later,
Marcus Chartrand took a shot that was initially stopped by Boyd, but the rebound landed on the stick of
Chance Bradley who scored his second of the season, and the Panthers only trailed by two. DU continued the pressure throughout the period. They kept firing everything they had at the Indiana Tech goal. Davenport would gain a power play with nine minutes left. After a couple of close calls, Bonser threw the puck in front of the net, and it bounced to
Tyler Heyboer who slapped it into the back of the net, and the Panthers were within striking distance of tying the game.
A COSTLY MISTAKE
Looking for the equalizer, DU opted to pull Tafel with the puck in the Indiana Tech end. At the same time, Ross forced a turnover with Tafel skating out of his net. The DU netminder tried to get back in time, but Ross' shot won the race to the net, as the Warriors would go back up by two.
SO CLOSE
The Panthers wasted little time before going back on the attack. They pulled Tafel successfully, and
Elijah Klco was put on as the extra man. Just moments later, Bonser would find Klco in front, and the freshman ripped home his fifth of the season, and the Panthers, once again, were down by one. They won the faceoff at center, and went right back into the Indiana Tech zone. They were able to get the puck to Tolsdorf with one second left, but the shot was fired just wide of the net, and the Warriors would take home the first game of the weekend by a 7-6 score.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Bonser had three assists in the third period, leading the team. Tolsdorf and Bradley each had two points for the Panthers.
Saturday, January 26
Final Score: Davenport 3– Indiana Tech 6
Records: #19 DU (2-13-1), #12 ITU (9-10-2)
Location: SportOne Parkview Icehouse (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
TAKING IT TO THEM
Davenport came out strong, looking for a much better start than the night before. The first period saw DU garner the majority of the chances, and it never seemed like Indiana Tech could find any offensive footing. DU outshot the Warriors 13-7 in the first period, and their persistence was rewarded, as Marschall scored his second goal of the weekend to the put the Panthers out in front.
FALLING DOWN….
Indiana Tech was not too fond of trailing on home ice, and came out with a much better second period. Less than 90 seconds into the period, Blake Anderson put home his 10
th of the season to bring the Warriors even. The remainder of the middle stanza saw the two teams trade chances, neither garnering an advantage until just under six minutes left when Ross found Reese, who fired home his 12
th on the year to give Indiana Tech the lead. Almost a minute and a half later, Reese returned the favor, as he set up Ross for his fourth goal of the weekend to extend the Indiana Tech lead to two.
…BUT GETTING BACK UP
Davenport needed a response, and got one almost immediately. Chris Heath found the back of the net for the first time this season just 12 seconds after the Ross goal, and DU would trail 3-2 heading into the third period.
Davenport, with the momentum from a good end to the second period, looked to capitalize on every opportunity they earned in the third. They were able to do a little passed the three-minute mark, as Heyboer put home his second goal in as many games to tie the game up at three.
SLIPPING AWAY
The Warriors were hungry for the sweep, and knew the next goal was going to be pivotal. They would find the mark as William Irick scored only his second goal of the season to put Indiana Tech back out in front. The Panthers were trying everything to tie the game up again, however a pair of empty net goals from Barney and Anthony Passarelli destroyed those hopes. The Warriors would earn the sweep with a 6-3 win.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Heyboer and Schievink led the charge offensively for the Panthers, each putting up two points in the contest.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Panthers are in for a tough weekend, as they will take on Grand Valley State in a weekend set. The Lakers have a 16-5-3 record, and are coming off a tough split against Hope. Currently ranked #4 in the region, the Lakers look to continue their dominance of the Panthers. DU is 12-12 all-time against GVSU, but have fallen in the last eight meetings. Their last victory was back on November 23
rd, 2013. Davenport will look to change that starting with Friday's meeting at Patterson a 3:00 p.m., followed up by a 5:30 p.m. meeting on Saturday at Griff's Georgetown Ice Center in Hudsonville.
Story by:
Tyler Kuehl
Picture credit: Alexis Hoffman
