HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – The D3 Hockey club has found themselves in quite a unique spot over the past few months. Despite not having won since October, the team has found a way to play a fair number of tight games against some top teams in the region. They knew they would have to play some of their best hockey of the year, as they took on Grand Valley State on Saturday.
 
Saturday, February 2
Final Score: Davenport 2 – Grand Valley State 6
Records: #19 DU (2-14-1), #4 GVSU (17-5-3)
Location: Griff's Georgetown Ice Center
 
The Lakers came out flying against a new-look Panthers lineup. Jacob Mofield did his part to keep the game scoreless for the majority of the first period with exceptional play in net. However, with just over six minutes to play in the period, Samuel Judd would break the deadlock with his second goal of the season, and GVSU would take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
 
SHOWING THEIR STUFF
Grand Valley would try to extend their lead for much of the second period, however Davenport held their own, and kept the game at only a one goal margin. With just a few minutes left in the period, the Lakers would find a way to increase the gap as Eric Lebryk beat Mofield for his fourth goal of the season.
 
It looked like GVSU was going to take a two-goal into the third, but Christopher Heath's second goal erased that possibility. Despite being heavily out-favored, DU only trailed Grand Valley by one heading into the final 20 minutes.
 
TOO MUCH TO HANDLE
GVSU began to play desperate hockey in the third, and just one minute in, leading-scorer Alex Siroky potted his 21^st of the season to put the Lakers back up by two. A handful of minutes later while DU was on the power play trying to shrink the lead, Michael Mann scored a short-handed marker to put Grand Valley up by three.
 
Yet, the Panthers continued to battle. While on the same power play, Hunter Tolsdorf and Shawn Marschall set up Charlie Bonser for his team-leading ninth goal of the season to bring back DU within two. However, GVSU would eliminate any chances for a comeback, as a goal from Mitch Lawton and a late tally Tim Baldwin would seal the deal, and the Panthers would fall for the ninth straight time by a final score of 6-2.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
Davenport will take on the Michigan State Spartans next weekend in another pair of contests. MSU is 17-8-1 this season, and ranked number five in the North Region. DU is 5-12 all-time against the Spartans, with their last win coming back in December of 2013. Friday night's meeting will be at Griff's Icehouse at 8 p.m., with the Saturday matchup being played at Munn Ice Arena.
 
Story by: Tyler Kuehl
 
Picture credit: Alexis Hoffman