Written by Tyler Kuehl

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – After a season opening loss to the Warriors, the D1 hockey team traveled right back down to Fort Wayne to meet for a second time with Indiana Tech. This time, the Panthers knew what to expect from their WHAC opponents.
 
Jason Cohan's first two goals as a Panther and Jason Rhynold's play in net helped the Panthers pick up their first win of the season by a 2-1 squeaker.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: #9 Davenport 2 – #22 Indiana Tech 1
Power Play: DU (2/5), IT (0/5)
Records: DU (1-1), IT (1-1)
 
CASHING IN
 
After not getting a single power play last Friday, the Panthers were given a couple of chances early on Friday night. Just passed the three minute mark of the first period, Indiana Tech's Cameron Wirick went off for cross-checking. On the ensuing power play, Nathan Nickelson and captain Ian Thompson helped set up Cohan to give the Panthers their first lead of the season.
 
That goal was scored on a delayed penalty, as Fabian Granqvist was going to be called for interference. With the Panthers scoring, they were allowed to go back on the power play. Once again, Cohan would be there for DU, as he scored his second goal in just under a minute, with the assist going to Luke Formica. Two power plays, two goals, and the Panthers would carry the lead into the intermission.
 
CLOSING IT DOWN
 
The Panthers defense was key the rest of the way. Rhynold and co. did not allow the Warriors even a sniff of the net in the second period. Despite Joel Holmberg's goal late in the third period making it a one-goal game, the Panthers would shut the door on the Warriors, and pick up their first win of the season.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers come back home to West Michigan, but stay on the road as they will take on the Aquinas Saints. It will be Aquinas' first game as a full-time division one program. The Saints went 25-10 playing a hybrid D1 and D2 schedule last season. They fell out of Nationals after only winning two of their three games in round-robin play. The Saints went 7-4 against the D3 Panthers, and took two of the three meetings last season against the D2 Panthers.
 
Puck drop on Saturday night at Southside Ice Arena is set for 7:30 p.m.