Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – After a pair of close games against Grand Valley, the D3 hockey team looked to get back on the winning track against Indiana Tech, a team currently sitting at the bottom of the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC) standings. Despite Davenport coming in with the better the record, the Warriors had still won six of the seven all-time meetings between the two.
 
The game started with both teams earning chances, but both Austen Strauss and Daniel Tiffany were sharp in goal. The Panthers finally broke the deadlock with a pair of goals by Alexander Brown in the second period. The Warriors were able to bring themselves within one in the third, but DU would hold them off the rest of the way to win their first game in over two months.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 3 – Indiana Tech 1
Shots: DU 23 | ITU 34
Power Play: DU (1/2) | ITU (0/5)
Records: DU (8-13, 6-11) | ITU (3-14-1, 2-13-1)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Along with Brown's two goals, Tyler Heyboer and Parker Schmitt each picked up a pair of assists. Austen Strauss earned his third win of the season in net, stopping 33 of 34 on Friday.
 
NO ROOM FOR ERROR
 
In the first period, neither team was able to find the back of the net, but not for a lack of trying. The Warriors and Panthers combined for 16 shots in the first period, and 22 in the second, with Strauss and Tiffany each stopping the first 18 shots they faced.
 
BREAKING THROUGH
 
Just minutes into the second period, the Panthers would score the first goal of the night as Heyboer and Schmitt set up Brown for his 20^th goal of the season. DU would score later in the period, as Heyboer helped Brown score his second of the game, this time on the power play, and Davenport would lead by two heading into the third period.
 
The Warriors would make things interesting as Derrick Treppa scored his second goal of the season to make it a one-goal game just 40 seconds into the third period.
 
However, that was all she wrote for Indiana Tech, as Strauss shut the door, making 13 stops in the final 20 minutes, and Marcus Chartrand's third goal of the season late in regulation sealed the win for the Panthers, 3-1 the final score.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
It will be Senior Night on Saturday for the Panthers, as they wrap up their weekend set against the Warriors in game two of Hockey Day at DU. The Panthers will honor Parker Schmitt, Christopher Heath and Tyler Heyboer prior to the 5:30 p.m. puck drop.