The Davenport men's ACHA Division I hockey team played their first couple of games over the weekend against a nationally-ranked opponent with a road game on Friday and a home game on Saturday against No. 21 Indiana Tech. The Warriors would take both games by scores of 4-2 and 2-1.

On Friday night, the teams played in Fort Wayne, Ind. and the Warriors in their season opener scored the first four goals and then had to hold off the Panthers. Indiana Tech scored 32 seconds apart in the first period with goals by Aidan Dufort and Mason Bazaluk. The scoring wouldn't start back up until the third period when Austin Sawyer scored 26 seconds into the period and Malik Ali scored on the power play at 9:40. Joseph Mocnik ended the game with two assists for the Warriors.

The Panthers fought back with a pair of goals by Noah Bradburn at 16:13 and Trent Benedict at 17:22. Ryan Blackburn and Liam Bland assisted on the first goal and Branwen Pollett assisted on the second goal. The further threat was halted later at 18:40 when Dylan Jouppi took a slashing penalty. Kyler Lowden made 31 saves for the Panthers in net. 

On Saturday, the game was more tightly contested throughout. Davenport took a 1-0 lead at Patterson Ice Center as Bland scored his third goal of the season from Jake Alton 57 seconds into the second period. Bazaluk would tie it up just 12 seconds later to head into the third period deadlocked. Ian Vannelli got the winning goal on the power play at 18:10 with assists from Connor Funke and Alexander Carrothers. 

Davenport would finish 0-for-3 on the power play, while Indiana Tech finished 1-for-3. The shots on goal were even at 27 for each team. Gage Reimer got the win in net for the Warriors with 26 saves. Nathan Gauthier made 25 saves for the Panthers in the narrow defeat.

The Panthers (4-3) will now turn their attention to three games this week against West Michigan teams. They will play Aquinas on Thursday at Southside Ice Arena and Sunday at Patterson Ice Center. Sandwiched between will be a date on Friday against No. 12 Calvin in GL6 action at Patterson Ice Center.