Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The D3 Hockey team looked for a better effort on Saturday afternoon after a rough outing on Friday night against the Michigan Wolverines.
 
The Panthers battled throughout the contest, but were unable to hold off the offensive attack of the Wolverines, as Michigan was able to complete the weekend sweep.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 7 – Michigan 5
Shots: DU 21 | UM 36
Power Play: DU (1/3) | UM (1/5)
Records: DU (3-4) | UM (6-2-1)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Aiden Dion and Kevin Crawley were at the forefront of DU's offense once again. Dion led the Panthers win a goal and two assists, with Crawley chiming in with a goal and an assist.
 
LUCKY BOUNCES
 
The game started fairly evenly, with both teams getting their fair share of chances. Then, just passed the halfway mark of the period, Michigan's Jake Stewart flipped the puck towards the goal from center ice. The puck took a weird bounce right in front Austen Strauss and trickled into the back of the net to make it 1-0 Wolverines.
 
The Panthers would then go on the penalty kill, and after a couple of good saves by Strauss, Brendan Schievink cleared the puck down the ice. Thankfully, Dillon Bond had flown the zone and received the clear. He went in uncontested and scored his third goal of the season to tie the game at one.
 
However, the game was not tied for long, as Stewart scored his second of the game for Michigan. This time, his shot from the point was stopped by the blocking arm of Strauss, but the puck went straight up in the air, and fell into the back of the net, and the Wolverines took the 2-1 lead into the intermission.
 
OPENING THINGS UP
 
In the second period, Michigan rode the momentum they built at the end of the first period into the second. Just over two minutes, Michigan leading scorer Danny Colon slid a shot by Strauss for his 11^th goal of the season to give the Wolverines a three-goal lead. It became 4-1 after Cure Cumming scored his first of the season.
 
The proved to be the end of the night for Strauss, as he was pulled after giving the four goals on 16 shots.
 
NOT BACKING DOWN
 
DU would get a glorious chance halfway through the period, as Stewart was assessed a major penalty, and Michigan's Michael Strouse went off for elbowing, giving DU a 5-on-3. They did not disappoint as Dion one-timed his fourth goal of the season to bring the Panthers back within two.
 
However, the Wolverines came with a pair of goals to extend their lead to four, as Ryan Hopkins and Nick Mellanby scored just two minutes apart.
 
However, Davenport continued to press in the period. With just over two minutes remaining, Dion made a nice move to find Crawley open back-door, and the sophomore banged in his third of the season, cutting the deficit to three heading into the third period.
 
Will Cumming added a goal in the third for Michigan, with Carter Osborn answering back for DU, but it was not enough as the Wolverines completed the weekend sweep with a 7-4 win.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
Davenport will travel down to Fort Wayne next weekend for a pair of games against Indiana Tech.
 
The Warriors will head into the set with a 1-5 record, but will have not played a game in almost a month, due to COVID cancellations.
 
The Panthers are 3-6 all-time against the Warriors, but took both meetings last season.
 
Game one of the weekend set will be Friday, March 12, with puck drop from the SportOne/Parkview Icehouse set for 7 p.m.