Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
OXFORD, Ohio – In their return to action following the semester break, the D2 hockey team traveled to state down South, as they were set to begin play in the Miami (OH) Showcase. Their first opponent was one of the best teams in the Southeast Region, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles. The Eagles are ranked #2 in the region, and arguably the #2 team in the country.
 
Despite the talent they were up against, the Panthers did not look intimidated on Friday night. DU went up 2-0 before the Eagles stormed back to tie the game. DU would go back up by a pair before Florida Gulf Coast found a way to tie the game by the second period. However, the third period and overtime solved nothing, leaving the two teams to walk away from the exciting game with a tie.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 4 – Florida Gulf Coast 4
Shots: DU 29| FGCU 45
Power Play: DU (1/4) | FGCU (1/4)
Records: DU (10-8-3-2) | FGCU (15-4-3-1)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Clint Loney led the Panthers with two goals in the game, while Jeff Rahilly also picked up a goal and an assist. Drake Deering did everything he could to give DU a chance to win, stopping 41 of 45 shots.
 
COMING IN HOT
 
Davenport wasted little time in breaking the ice, as after being given an early power play, Loney scored his eighth of the season just under five minutes in to give DU the 1-0 lead. Loney stayed on following the goal, and just 38 seconds later, he would score again to put the Panthers up by two.
 
The Eagles would get on the board not too long after as Seth Cohen scored his fourth to bring the Eagles back within one. Shortly thereafter, David Wong scored to tie the game at one.
 
The score would not remained deadlocked for long, as Rahilly would give the DU lead right back with his team-leading 15^th goal of the season 29 seconds later. Cole Uzzell notched another goal for the Panthers with just over five minutes remaining in the period to put them up by two for the second time on the night.
 
SOARING BACK
 
The Eagles would not go away. With just over a minute left in the first, Dawson Zahorian scored on the power play to bring Florida Gulf Coast back within one.
 
FGCU kept attacking in the second, and would be rewarded when Wong tied the game with his second of the night just over seven minutes into the frame.
 
DRAW
 
This set up an intense third period, tied at four. However, despite great scoring chances by both clubs, neither team could score. The two went to overtime, but that solved nothing, and the game ended in a 4-4 tie.
 
The two participated in a shootout for bragging rights, which Davenport won 5-4.

Despite only getting a single point, head coach Chris Green was pleased with his team's effort.

"Tho play today was amazing," Coach Green stated after the game. " What my boy did against a team in the country is amazing.My boys are not only buying in, but they are believing in themselves."
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
In game two of the showcase, the Panthers take on the best team in the Southeast Region, and widely regarded as the best team in D2, the Liberty Flames. The Flames are 19-2-1 this season, and are coming off an overtime win over Grand Valley State on Friday. The Panthers are 7-9-2-4 all-time against Liberty, but have not played the Flames since November of 2016.
 
Puck drop at Goggin Ice Center is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday.