Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
OXFORD, Ohio – After a season-opening loss Friday night, the D3 Hockey team looked to come back and split the weekend set with the Miami RedHawks. Despite falling behind early once again, the Panthers were able to mount a comeback and tie the RedHawks in the third period. However, a goal in the dying minutes by Miami did Davenport in, and the RedHawks completed the weekend sweep by a final score of 5-4.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Two more Panthers scored their first goals wearing a Davenport uniform, as Aiden Dion and Alexander Brown each tallied goals for DU. Charlie Bonser led the Panthers with two goals in the contest, and in his first start as a Panther, Kyle Wagner stopped 14 of the 17 shots he faced. Wagner split the game with junior goaltender Jordan Tafel, who only gave up two goals on the 26 shots he faced.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: DU 4 – MU 5
Shots: DU 28 – MU 37
Power Play: DU (1/7), MU (0/6)
Records: DU (0-2), MU (2-0)
 
HAWKS SEEING RED
 
Similar to the Friday night matchup, the RedHawks jumped out to the early lead. This time, Miami scored in the first minute, twice. Tyler Einwechter scored just 27 seconds into the game, followed by Evan Ingram scoring just 19 seconds later. The RedHawks capped off their impressive first period with a goal from Ian Bushong, and Miami was in control, leading the Panthers by three after 20 minutes.
 
 BACK IN THE GAME
 
Déjà vu. After trailing Miami by three, Davenport came right back with a flurry of their own in period two. Just over two minutes in, Dion scored to put DU on the board. After Nick Thomson scored to give the RedHawks a three-goal for the second time, Bonser scored with the help of Thomas Chaulk to put Davenport back within two.
 
Into the third period, George Hangas set up Bonser for his second of the game just before the seven-minute mark. 15 seconds later, Tyler Heyboer assisted Brown to tie the game at four. After trailing the game by three goals on two separate occasions, Davenport still had a chance to take the lead.
 
Coach Eric Sikkenga was impressed with his team's spirit on Saturday.
 
"Great effort to battle back from a 3-0 first period deficit," he stated after the game.
 
Yet, it was not to be. With 101 seconds on the clock, Luke Stewart beat Tafel to give Miami the lead. Despite a valiant effort to tie the game, DU would fall to 0-2 after taking a 5-4 loss at the hands of the RedHawks.
 
Even though the Panthers fought back, Sikkenga knows his team can do better, but there is signs of optimism with the young roster.
 
"The weekend exposed some areas of improvement, but also highlighted the enthusiasm we have for our new players."
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers have a week off before kicking off their MCHC schedule with a home-in-home against the University of Michigan-Flint. The Wolverines went 12-16-3-1 last season, before falling to Central Michigan in the quarterfinals of the MCHC playoffs. UM-Flint took both games from the Panthers last season, but Davenport still holds the all-time record against UM-Flint, as DU is 5-3-1 against the Wolverines.
 
Davenport's home opener will be Friday night, October 4^th at Patterson Ice Center, with puck drop set for 8:30 p.m.