TIFFIN, Ohio – The Panthers traveled to Tiffin University for a challenging season-opening game. The Dragons are preseason ranked 25 and Davenport lost a pair of games last season to them. The first period of play tilted the Dragons way, but Davenport went toe to toe with Tiffin in the second period. A couple underclassmen led the way for the Panthers in the game, Aaliyah Miller offensively and Christine Steffes defensively.
 
The Basics
Final Score: Davenport University-6 | #25 Tiffin University-11
Location: Tiffin, Ohio
Record: DU (0-1) | TU (1-0)

Goals Per Period
First period: DU-2 | TU-6
Second period: DU-4 | TU-5

How It Happened
Tiffin got on the board first, scoring 1:27 into the game to take a 1-0 lead. The Dragons followed that up with a free position goal to take a two-goal advantage. The Panthers gathered themselves and responded with two goals of their own to tie the game 2-2. Miller scored the first goal of the game and the 2019 season for DU, she was assisted by Kenzie Warren on the goal. After a few minutes of play the same two teamed up again to tie the game, giving Miller her second goal of the game. Tiffin controlled the remainder of the period, scoring four unanswered goals and Davenport trailed by four goals heading into half.
 
The Dragons opened the second period scoring three straight goals, extending their lead to seven goals with 12:34 left in the game. Davenport got goals from Ryann Deuel and Taylor Ries to cut the lead down to five goals. However, the clock was working against the Panthers in this game. Tiffin scored a goal while being a man-up with 5:51 in the game to take a 10-4 lead. The Panthers never quit though, scoring another two consecutive goals to cut the lead down to four with just over four minutes to play. This time around, Brenna Knoll scored her first of the season and Miller notched her third of the game. The goal by Miller would be the final for DU in the game and Tiffin tacked on a man-down goal to make the final 11-6.
 
Coaches Corner
"We knew this wasn't going to be an easy game, but I wanted to see the fight in them. We have progressed in every way this year compared to last. This team has more potential in its tank, and we are going to keep pushing them all season. After we calmed down and realized we were beating ourselves, the true Panthers came out to play." – Head Coach Rob Harris
 
Inside The Box
Miller (3 G, GB, CT)
Deuel (G, A, 2 GB, 3 DC, 0-1 FPS)
Knoll (G, A, 3 GB, CT, 2 DC, 0-1 FPS)
Ries (G, A, 2 GB, CT)
Steffes (2 GB, 3 CT)
Amber Park (2 GB, CT, 5 DC)
Makenna Pitchford (60:00 minutes, 11 GA, 7 saves, 2 ground balls)
 
Up Next
Davenport heads to West Virginia for a non-conference tilt against Alderson Broaddus University. The game will start at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 17.

Story by: Devin Steiner

Photo Credit: Andy Visockis