GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The men's ACHA Division I hockey team won back-to-back games for the first time this season on Friday night with a 5-3 road win against No. 16 Purdue Northwest. The Panthers trailed 1-0 after the first period, but broke out in the second period with four goals. They added one more into an empty net with 30 seconds left for their fourth win of the season and third win against a nationally-ranked team.
Peter Stojcevski scored nine seconds into the second period to tie the game from
Branwen Pollett. Dylan Dekoe gave the Pride a 2-1 lead at 4:05 from Brodie McIntyre and Cooper Knott. The Panthers then went to work by scoring the next three goals.
Ryan Blackburn put home a rebound at 6:46 from
Dylan Jouppi and
Noah Bradburn to tie it up at 2-2.
Zach Schneider added his first goal of the season at 12:14 and then 44 seconds later it was
Jake Alton with a high shot for his second goal of the season from Schneider and Blackburn for a 4-2 advantage.
McIntyre scored his third of the season at 7:18 of the third period for the Pride to creep closer down 4-3. Matthew Carlson added the empty net goal to seal the win. There were no penalties called until the third period and each team took one minor.
Reid Ramsay got the win in net for Davenport making 32 saves.
The Pride left no doubt in the rematch on Saturday at Patterson Ice Center with a 4-0 win. Each team totaled 35 shots on goal, but Christopher Gingras had a fine night in net for Purdue Northwest with 35 saves in the shutout.
Kyler Lowden stopped 31 shots for the Panthers.
Davenport took six minor penalties compared to just one for the Pride. Bryce Jacobsen scored his first of the season on the game's only power play goal at 2:20 of the opening period. Michael Clough added another goal in the first period for a 2-0 lead. Patrick Hays and Carson Finney then scored in the second period to pull away.
The Panthers will welcome the Fighting Illini of Illinois next weekend for two games at Patterson Ice Center. They play Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 PM.
