ADRIAN, Mich. – The Women's Hockey team, after a tough weekend in Massachusetts last weekend, kept on the road against one of the best teams in the country, the Adrian Bulldogs. Adrian, who lost in the National Championship game last year, were coming off sweeping Aquinas College the weekend prior, looked to keep their dominant momentum going, while the Panthers were trying to find ways to compete with the top programs around the ACHA.
 
Sunday October 21
Final Score: Davenport 1 – Adrian 9
Records: DU (3-4), AC (5-0)
 
UNDER PRESSURE
After playing three top-15 teams last weekend, Davenport prepped all week for a contest against a highly skilled Adrian club. The first ten minutes featured consistent pressure from the Bulldogs. Netminder Julia Gaynor was once again faced with an onslaught of shots, and started off strong, holding Adrian off the board for the first half of the period. However, she could not hold them off forever, as Samantha Fortune scored to break the ice, and gave the Bulldogs the 1-0 lead. More pressure by the Bulldogs led to another tally, this time Brittany Levasseur was able to slip a shot passed Gaynor, and the Bulldogs went into the first intermission with a two goal lead.
 
The Bulldogs attack continued on into the second period, as Leah Williams and Levasseur each scored just minutes apart to put Adrian up by four. Fortune would score her second of the game just after the halfway mark of the middle frame. Davenport would get a power play with five minutes left, and they looked to capitalize on the man advantage. After a nice set up from Amanda Ballestero and Olivia Rudberg, Emily Ellis was able to score her fourth of the season to get the Panthers on the board. Williams would score again just over a minute later for Adrian, and the Bulldogs led DU 6-1 after two periods of play.
 
CONTINUING TO FIGHT
The Panthers tried to muster up some more offense in the third, but Adrian's goaltender, Dana Colombo, thwarted off all of Davenport's scoring chances in the third, and earned the win with 14 stops. Adrian would tally three more goals in the third, with Fortune, Kaillie Hardy, and Meagan Coleman scoring for the Bulldogs, and they would take the victory at home by a final 9-1 score.
 
"This team played better than [last weekend's] showcase," said Head Coach Jerre Coretti, regarding his team's improved performance Sunday. "Positionally, we played better, and we played more discipline. This team showed some grit today."
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Gaynor stood out once again, making 55 saves in net for the Panthers.
 
WHO'S NEXT
The Panthers get a couple weeks off to catch their breath before finally coming home to take on the Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans finished #3 in the country last season, but was eliminated in the first round of the National Tournament by Colorado. MSU took both meetings from the Panthers last season, by scores of 8-2 and 8-1. DU's home opener will be on November the 9^th at Patterson, with puck drop set at 8:30 p.m.
 
Story by: Tyler Kuehl
 
Picture credit: Tyler Triemstra