FRSICO, Texas – The Panthers were right back at it again on Sunday in the quarterfinals against longtime rival Michigan-Dearborn. The Wolverines had a day off following their win over Oklahoma in the second round. The two teams had split the season series back in December, and if those games had anything to prove this matchup was going to be a good one.
 
Sunday, March 24
Final Score: #7 Davenport 4 - #2 Michigan-Dearborn 6
 
STUMBLING OUT OF THE GATE
The Panthers seemed to be caught off guard against the rested Wolverines, as Michigan-Dearborn came out flying in the first period. Just over three minutes into the period, Kevin Bechard beat Jason Rhynold to give the Wolverines the early lead. Davenport came back with a few good chances, but UM-Dearborn's Thomas Proudlock was able to shut the door. With only a handful of minutes remaining in the period, Tyler Groat continued his hot streak with a tally to give UM-Dearborn a two-goal lead heading into the break.
 
STORMING BACK…LITERALLY
Davenport knew they would need a better start in the second period if they wanted a chance against one of the best teams in the country. Just two-and-a-half minutes in, Sam Basich led a DU rush into the Wolverine zone, fed Wade Wesigerber a pass, and the senior's shot somehow slipped through Proudlock to cut the lead in half. Just a few minutes later, the Panthers would go on the power play. After a Tyler Layle shot was kicked out by Proudlock, Luke Cowan found the rebound and slipped it in to tie the game at 2-2. Chances were traded by both clubs, but Rhynold and Proudlock made some big stops.
 
With just over six minutes to play, there was a tornado warning issued across the Dallas area, halting the action for almost 40 minutes. Thankfully, the storm rolled through and play continued. However, neither team could muster up anything more on the scoreboard and the game would be deadlocked at deuces.
 
SWINGING MOMENTUM
Similar to how the Panthers came out in the second period, the Wolverines did just that in the third, just a little quicker. Just 37 seconds into the final frame, Kyle Schnettler threw a wrister on goal that sifted its way through traffic and passed Rhynold to give UM-Dearborn their second lead of the game.
 
The Panthers would earn a power play just minutes later, but could not convert. However, just as the penalty expired, Nathaniel Nickelson fired a shot towards the goal and Layle was able to deflect it in to tie the game once again.
 
The goal seemed to right to the legs of the Panthers as they came back with more scoring chances, however it would be the Wolverines who took advantage of a long-range shot, as Michael Hodgson ripped one off the crossbar and in to give the Wolverines the lead once again.
 
COMING SO CLOSE
 
The Panthers would have a power play with just over two minutes to play in the game. With the net empty, the Panthers took a shot that Proudlock stopped, but the rebound slipped out of the reach of multiple Davenport players. Groat would put the puck into the empty net from near mid-ice.
 
There was still 1:20 left in the game, and the Panthers refused to quit. Still on the power play, the Panthers worked the puck down low. After a bad angle shot was stopped by Proudlock, Weisgerber found the rebound and tucked it home to bring DU back within one.
 
Less than a minute to play, the Panthers jumped right back into the Wolverines' zone. Keegan Miller took a shot that was stopped, and somehow Proudlock found the rebound and swatted it out of harms way. John Ames would eventually gain possession and fire it into the empty net from his own zone to seal the deal, ending the Panthers season with the final score of 6-4.
 
"I'm proud of how we battled," head coach Phil Sweeney said following the loss. He had good reason to be. Davenport hung in the game with one the best teams in the country and one of the best goaltenders in the country.
 
Davenport ends the season with an overall record of 24-9-3, and Sweeney had a lot to say about the outgoing class.
 
"I'm really going to miss this senior class, great group of men. It's been great coaching them, but I'm more excited to watch them be men in the real world. I want to thank them for giving me everything over the past four-plus years."
 
Story by: Tyler Kuehl
 
Picture credit: Kelly Stafford