KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In absolutely brutal conditions on Sunday, the Davenport men's lacrosse team was just happy to get back on the field in a 16-8 loss to 16th-ranked Rockhurst. The temps were hovering around zero with the wind chill and snow was accumulating on the field as the game went on. Despite the weather, both teams actually put up some pretty good offensive numbers. 

The Panthers were equal to the challenge against a Rockhurst team that went 6-1 in 2020 before the pandemic shut things down. DU trailed 1-0 just 14 seconds into the game but that did not deter them. The Panthers scored the next three goals to take a 3-1 lead with 8:56 left in the quarter. Keelan McKouen, Adam Smellie and Keagan King all scored unassisted for Davenport.

The Hawks got that early wake-up call and responded with five straight goals to take a 6-3 lead with 10:43 left in the second quarter. That sixth goal was particularly tough as John Myran scored a man-down from Graeden Soucy. DU saw themselves down 7-4 at halftime as Fernando Rodriguez scored a man-up goal at the 5:36 mark from James Johnston.

The Hawks applied the pressure in the second half to start and pull away. McKouen scored his second of the game at 8:26 of the third quarter, but Rockhurst reeled off four straight goals to lead 12-5 with 11:12 left in the contest. Johnston and Austin Thompson scored back-to-back goals to cut the lead to 12-7 with 9:42 to go. Rockhurst then scored four straight goals before Jordan Caskenette broke the string with 36 seconds left for DU's eighth and final goal of the game.

Alec Heflin made quite a debut with six goals and one assist for Rockhurst. Brooks Hanson added three goals as the only two Hawks with multiple goals in the game. McKouen was the only Panther with multiple goals. Chase Post, Connor Foster and Andy Trapp each tied for the team lead with three groundballs. Chris Junkunc led with two caused turnovers out of five total for the team. Daniel Milano recorded 17 saves for the Panthers.

Rockhurst had a big advantage in the face-off circle winning 22-of-28. They also finished with 54 total shots compared to 21 for DU.