Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
OXFORD, Ohio – In the second game of the Miami (OH) Showcase, the D2 hockey team took on what many believe is the best team in the ACHA, Liberty University. The Flames had just come off a dramatic overtime win over Grand Valley State the night prior, while the Panthers were feeling good after a tie against Florida Gulf Coast.
 
The game was an extremely tight contest from start to finish. Neither team could score early, but traded goals in the middle stanza. When it came down to the nitty-gritty in the third period, the Flames showed why they were the #1 team in the Southeast Region by scoring two in the final 20 minutes to pick up the win.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 1 – Liberty 3
Shots: DU 23 | LU 31
Power Play: DU (1/2) | LU (1/1)
Records: DU (10-9-3-2) | LU (20-2-1)

NO ROOM FOR ERROR

The game was close from the onset. Both teams had chances in the first period, but neither team could find the back of the net as both Robert Pegrum and Dakota Cyhaniuk traded stops in the first period. The first tally of the game would not come until Alex Norwinski scored a power play goal for the Flames just 29 seconds into the second period.

Davenport would find a way to respond after Jeff Rahilly set up Clint Loney for his 10th goal of the season to tie the game with just a few minutes remaining in the period.

In the third period, Liberty hounded the Panther net looking for the go-ahead goal, and Pegrum did everything he could to keep the game level. However, the Flames would finally break through as Josh Wagner scored his first goal of the season to give the Flames their second lead of the game. 

DU looked to tie the game late, but an empty-net goal from Blake Flanders put the game away, giving Liberty the 3-1 win.

Once again, despite not being able to pick up the win, head coach Chris Green was pleased by his team's performance.

"In reality, it was a one-goal game against the #1 team in the Southeast [Region]," Green told the media after the game. "Really happy with my boys' play today. They gave it a good fight but came up short. [Pegrum] played great in net tonight, bummed we couldn't find a goal for him."
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers have one more game in the weekend showcase, and will take on the host Miami RedHawks. Davenport split with Miami in the opening weekend of the regular season back in late September, and are 15-3-3-1 all-time against the RedHawks. Miami will be coming off a game against Grand Valley after falling to Lindenwood on Friday night.
 
Puck drop at Goggin Ice Center is set for 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.