HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – The Women's hockey team finally was able to take on their crosstown rivals for the second time this season, as this is the second time the road game against the Lakers was rescheduled. The Panthers were coming off a sweep of Aquinas last weekend, and Grand Valley was recently swept by #5 Michigan State.
 
Tuesday, February 5
Final Score: Davenport 1 – Grand Valley State 3
Records: #15 DU (6-17-1), #8 GVSU (12-10-1)
Location: Griff's Georgetown Ice Center (Hudsonville, Mich.)
 
STAGNANT CONTEST
The Panthers wanted to play a much tighter game against the Lakers this time around, and they knew it was going to be up to Julia Gaynor to make that happen. The DU netminder stood on her head throughout the night, and was able to hold Grand Valley off the scoreboard for over half of the game. The first 20 minutes saw neither team find the back of the net, and despite being out-chanced, Davenport was still tied heading into the second period.
 
OUT IN FRONT
The Panthers, off the play of their goaltender, were able to come out with some chances early in the second period. Before the halfway mark of the period, Tori Dubuc and freshman Morgan Pippin set up Laken Kunz for her eighth goal of the season, and DU led 1-0.
 
ANCHORS AWAY
Grand Valley would finally break through Gaynor with just a handful of minutes left in the second, as Brianna Weglarz scored her third goal of the season to tie the game at one.
 
As play started in the third period, GVSU came out flying offensively, firing everything at the Davenport net. Once again, Gaynor was trying to hold her own. Save after save, it looked like the Goderich native was going to steal the game from the Lakers. However, with just over five minutes in regulation, Allison Stapleton was able to solve Gaynor to give the Lakers their first lead of the game. DU looked to find the equalizer, but Stapleton added another late in the game to seal the victory, with the final score being a 3-1 decision.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Like many games this season, Gaynor's effort did not go unrecognized, as the junior goaltender made 61 saves on the night. "Julia played, I think, her best game of the season." Head Coach Jerre Coretti stated postgame.
 
Tuesday night was also the last game for Jaiden Forrest. Forrest ends her career at DU with 65 points in 68 games. Her point-per-game average of 0.96 is third all-time. She ranks third in points, second in goals (38), and fourth in assists (27). Her 37-point season that she earned this season is the second-best singles season in Davenport history.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
Davenport wraps up their regular season with a home meeting with #3 Lindenwood-Belleville. The Bearcats are 14-3-3, and are coming off a sweep of #13 Michigan, outscoring the Wolverines by a combined score of 16-1. The Panthers have lost all five meeting to Lindenwood-Belleville, and will meet the Bearcats on Friday at 2:45 p.m. at Patterson.
 
Story by: Tyler Kuehl
 
Picture credit: Alexis Hoffman