Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After falling to the Concordia Cardinals the night before, the Women's Hockey team had a quick turnaround for a morning tilt Concordia.
 
The Panthers jumped out in front early, Concordia was able to keep the game close. Despite a surge to tie the game in third period, Davenport was able to hang on to pick up their first win of the season.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 5– Concordia-Ann Arbor 4
Shots: DU 46 | CUAA 35
Power Play: DU (2/5) | CUAA (1/4)
Records: DU (1-1) | CUAA (3-1)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Julia Gaynor played well in net for DU, picking up the win after a 31-save performance. Courtney Mulligan scored a goal and an assist, with Avery Anderson finding the back of the net for the first time as a Panther.
 
GOOD START
 
The lack of sleep did not seem to affect DU as they came out flying. A little over three minutes into the game, Mulligan found room in the offensive zone, and beat Cardinals' goaltender, Teagan Johnson, to the glove side to put the Panthers on the board. Just over a minute later, Elizabeth O'Connor was able to sneak one by Johnson for her first of the year to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.
 
MOMENTUM SWING
 
The Cardinals were able to get back in the game with a power play goal from Reagan Tolley early in the second period. Yet, DU answered back, as Adriannah Letts was able to sneak a shot by the blocker of Johnson to put DU back up by two.
 
That would be the end of the game for Johnson, after giving up three goals on 18 shots.
 
Concordia brought the game back to a one-goal margin after Reese Hetherington was able to beat Gaynor with a back-hander to bring the Cards back within one.
 
FIRST-TIMER
 
The Panthers received a power play late in the period. Jessica Plowman skated the puck down the right wing and took a shot that was initially stopped by Lizzy Knappenberger, but Anderson jumped on the rebound to put DU back up by two heading into the break.
 
TENSE MOMENTS
 
In the third period, Anderson and Mulligan set up Morgan Pippin to give the Panthers a 5-2 lead. However, Concordia started to come back. Kassidy Scheben first scored to bring the Cardinals back within two, before Tolley scored her second of the game to make it a one-goal game with a little over five minutes to play.
 
Concordia pushed, looking for the tying goal. Davenport even had to kill off a penalty in the final minutes. Gaynor and the rest of the Panther defense shut the door, holding for the 5-4 win.
 
COACH'S CORNER
 
Here are head coach Matt Sekosan's thoughts following the game.
   

WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers get a week off before tangling with crosstown rival Aquinas. The Panthers and Saints split the season series last year, and are 6-1-1 all-time against Aquinas.
 
The first game of the weekend set will be on Feb. 19, puck drop at Patterson is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.