Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – For the first in program history, D2 hockey traveled beyond the borders of the U.S. They traveled a little North of the Soo Locks to play the Sault College Cougars. The Cougars are the defending D3 National Champions, and have started off their first season in D2 on the right foot.
 
The Soo jumped out to an early first period lead, but Davenport battled back to tie the game in the second period, setting up a tense third period. The Cougars would prevail with two goals in the final 20 minutes to take the first game of the weekend.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 3 – Sault College 5
Power Play: DU (0/3) | SC (1/4)
Records: DU (7-5-1) | SC (10-2-1)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Spencer Sandberg led the Panthers with two assists Saturday night. Jeff Rahilly scored his eighth goal of the season, putting him in the team lead in that category.
 
HOME COOKING
 
Davenport wanted to make a good first impression on foreign soil, but it was the Cougars who fed off the home ice advantage. Steven Khull scored just a few minutes into the contest to put the Soo out in front. Later on in the period, Bryceton Lalonde his eighth goal of the season to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Then, DU found themselves in penalty trouble, despite being able to kill off a 5-on-3 earlier in the period, Tyler Jaenicke was sent to the sin bin late in the period, and the Soo would cash in as Ryan Vendramin scored his ACHA-leading 25^th goal of the season to give the Cougars a three-goal lead.
 
POUNCING BACK
 
With just over a minute left in the opening frame, Clint Loney scored his fifth goal of the season to put DU on the board.
 
Despite trailing by two heading into the second period, the momentum had clearly shifted in favor of the Panthers. Just over five minutes into the middle stanza, Kyle Mazur would tally his sixth of the season to cut the Soo lead to one. 90 seconds later, Sandberg would set up Rahilly for a goal, and just like that DU had gone from 3-0 down to being back even with the Cougars.
 
CLOSING IT OUT
 
The third period saw both teams get quality scoring chances, but it would be the home team who would be able to convert. Anthony Pullicino scored his first of the season to give the Soo their second lead of the game minutes into the period. When it looked Davenport was going to give everything they had to tie it, Vendramin would score his second of the game to put the game out of reach, as the Cougars would go on to pick up the win by a final score of 5-3.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
DU wraps up their weekend set with the Cougars with a Sunday afternoon matchup. Puck drop at Rankin Arena is set for 12 p.m.