GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The women's hockey program finally came home for the first time this season, and were tasked with taking on a pair of top programs, as they welcomed the Spartans and Bulldogs to Patterson over the weekend. Davenport fell to Adrian last month, 9-1, at Arrington Arena. The Spartans were coming off a sweep over #8 Rhode Island.
 
Friday, November 9
Final Score: Davenport 0 – Michigan State 7
Records: #13 DU (1-5), #4 MSU (4-2)
Location: Patterson Ice Center (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
 
HANGING IN THERE
In front of a great crowd, the Panthers took to the ice at home for the first time this season. Against a very skilled Michigan State club, they knew it was not going to be easy. However, the Panthers came out strong earning a couple of chances. The Spartans would get the first mark on the board, after Kelsey Jaeckle put a shot passed Julia Gaynor. Despite the Spartans leading DU after the first period, DU was able to keep up with MSU, with shots almost even after 20 minutes.
 
OPENING THE GAME UP
Despite the Panthers trying everything they could to hold their own, the Spartans' depth proved to be too much against the Panthers. Early in the stanza, Amelia Schroder scored her first of the season to put Michigan State up by a pair. Just a few minutes later, Allison Lariviere found the back of the net herself. Gaynor made a couple of good stops throughout the second, but the consistent pressure from State proved to be too much, as Gabriela Rowe and Kaite Krumm scored just under two minutes apart. Michigan State would lead the Panthers 5-0 heading into the third period.
 
Despite giving up four goals in the middle frame, the Panthers had three power play opportunities. Each time the Panthers went up a player, they created more and more chances, making life difficult for Spartan netminder Kathryn Hamer.
 
MSU scored another quick goal shortly after the start of period three, as Jaeckle scored her second of the game. Davenport would have a couple of close calls with more chances on the power play, but were unsuccessful, and Kendal Anderson capped of the night with her team leading fifth goal of the season, and Michigan State would spoil DU's home opener, 7-0.
 
Despite the outcome on the scoreboard, the Panthers kept the shots close against the Spartans, only being outshot 34-24.
 
Saturday, November 10
Final Score: Davenport 0 – Adrian 11
Records: #13 DU (1-6), #1 AC (9-0-1)
Location: Patterson Ice Center (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
 
With the #1 team in the nation coming into Patterson Ice Center, the Panthers looked to find a way to keep up with the Bulldogs. However, the speed and depth of Adrian proved too much for DU on Saturday night. Over the halfway mark of the period, the Panthers were unable to clear the puck out of their own zone, and after many close calls, Brooklynn Moore took a long wrist shot from the point, and it slipped by Gaynor to give Adrian the 1-0 lead. Kirstin LaBelle scored her third of the season off a turnover right in front of the Davenport net. Taylor Murcek ended the period's scoring with a goal while on her stomach, and the Bulldogs led the Panthers 3-0 after the first period.
 
The second period was not much more favorable for DU. Just over a minute apart, Samantha Fortune scored back-to-back goals for Adrian, both after nice setups from Adrian's leading scorer Kaillie Hardy. Olivia Pollari scored just 45 seconds later, giving the Bulldogs three goals less than three minutes apart.
 
Gaynor was able to settle things down in net, making a few nice saves, a couple of which were on a breakaway. Erika MacDonald found a way to stop Gaynor's run with her fourth of the season.
 
In the third period, Davenport started to find holes in the Adrian defense. Jaiden Forrest created a couple of scoring chances, as did Tori Dubuc. Emily Ellis had a breakaway halfway through the third, but was stoned by Adrian's Kalysta Coulter. The Bulldogs would find the net four more times before the final buzzer, and Adrian took home an 11-0 victory.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Gaynor was busy once again Saturday, making 46 saves against Adrian.
 
Sunday November 11
Final Score: Davenport 3 – Michigan State 15
Records: #13 DU (1-7), #4 MSU (5-2)
Location: Munn Ice Arena (East Lansing, Mich.)
 
WILD START
The Spartans did not take long to jump on the Panthers on Sunday. Priyanya Rajagopal scored just minutes into the contest to give the Spartans the early lead. The lead did not last long, though. Morgan Pippin scored her first collegiate goal to tie the game at one. Michigan State had a flurry of chances throughout the rest of the first, and their goals came in bunches. Morgan Graham and Julia Lutz scored just seconds apart to put the Spartans up by two. Kendal Anderson, Katie Krumm, and Ava Gawley scored just over two minutes apart to further extend MSU's lead. Unlike Friday night, State had a comfortable lead at the end of the first period.
 
CONTINUOUS PRESSURE
The Panthers wanted to find a way back in the game, and the top line went to work in the first shift of the second period. Courtney Mulligan scored her third goal of the season with the setup coming from Jaiden Forrest and Emily Ellis. Michigan State would respond with a plethora of chances, resulting with seven goals, most coming from the play of Lutz and Jaeckle. Michigan State would end up taking a double-digit lead into the third period.
 
Each team would trade goals in the third period, with Pippin getting her second of the game, and the Panthers lost their third game of the weekend, 15-3.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
The Panthers will travel down to Lynchburg, Va. to take part in the Liberty University Showcase. DU's opponent Friday will be Penn State. The Nittany Lions are 5-4 this season, and have not played a game since being swept by #10 Rhode Island during the last weekend of October. Davenport will take on #2 Liberty on Saturday. The Flames defeated the Panthers back on October the 13, and are 8-1-2 this season. The Panthers and Nittany Lions will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, and the Flames will take on Davenport at 8 p.m. Saturday. Both games will take place at the LaHaye Ice Center.
 
Story by: Tyler Kuehl
 
Picture credit: Alexis Hoffman