Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – After a pair of losses in the two previous days, the D2 Hockey team looked to end their 2021 regular season on a high note, and looked to avenge Saturday's loss against Maryville University.
 
The game was close, with the teams trading chances and goals. However, Jacob Demeter's hat trick, and a goal in the dying seconds of regulation, proved to be the difference, giving the Panthers the win, and splitting their weekend set with the Saints.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 5 – Maryville 4
Shots: DU 34 | MU 35
Power Play: DU (0/4) | MU (0-3)
Records: #16 DU (5-4-1) | MU (2-13)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Along with his hat trick, Demeter added an assist to give himself a four-point game. Nathan Hartline also had four points with a goal and three assists. Brendan Bogema redeemed himself with a 31-save performance in net.
 
TO-AND-FRO
 
DU struck first early in the opening 20 minutes, as Demeter scored his fifth of the season just a couple of minutes in. However, Alex Koeller scored to tie the game at one just a minutes later, before Demeter put the Panthers back out in front before the end of the period.
 
In the second, Spencer Anderson found the back of the net for the fifth time this season to give DU a two-goal cushion. The Saints answered back late in the frame, as Koeller scored his second of the game to bring Maryville within one. With 14 seconds left in the period, Matthew Simoncelli scored to the game at three.
 
Yet, DU wasted no time at all to regain the lead, as Demeter completed his hat trick with just five seconds left in the period, and the Panthers carried a 4-3 lead into the third.
 
COMING IN CLUTCH
 
Jake Hanebrink tied the game at four with just under five minutes left in regulation, and it looked like the game was heading into overtime.
 
However, it would be Hartline scoring his sixth goal of his rookie season with three seconds left, and the Panthers would take home the 5-4 win.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers now wait to see if they qualify for the ACHA D2 National Tournament. The top-20 teams will make it to Bismarck, North Dakota, with the Panthers currently on-the-bubble, sitting No. 16 in the country.