Feb. 7, 2008

ADRIAN, Mich. - The #24 Adrian College men's ACHA hockey team picked up their third-straight win with a 5-3 decision over the squad from Davenport University that finished second in the ACHA D2 championships a year ago.

The Panthers struck first with a delayed-penalty goal four minutes into the game to take the early 1-0 advantage. The Bulldogs did not let the Panthers keep the lead long. Jared Semple netted his first goal of the night less than one minute later as he fired a slap shot that trickled past the Panther goalie to even the score 1-1. Michael Yakamovich made a tremendous effort to get past the Panther defense only to have a wrist shot stopped. Semple, who was following the play, cleaned up the uncontrolled puck to get his second goal of the night.

Less than four minutes before the end of the first period, Jimmy Scullion carried the puck from the perimeter on a power play deep into the right side of the Bulldog zone and beat the Panther goalie for the Bulldogs' third goal of the night. The visitors responded just under the two-minute mark with a power-play goal of their own to cut the Bulldog lead to one goal before intermission.

In the second period, the Panthers notched the only goal of the period on a play from behind the net to tie the game at 3-3.

In a tightly-played third period, the score remained 3-3 until the Bulldogs lit up the scoreboard after a succession of breakaway opportunities for both teams. Jared Semple and Trevor Markovich were on the offensive side of a two-on-one opportunity when Semple slid the puck in front of the Panther goalie to an open Markovich, who then one-timed the puck into the back of the net for the game-winner. Late in the period, the Panthers pulled their goalie in order to have an extra attacker to try to tie the game and possibly force overtime. The Bulldogs had other plans. After gaining possession of the puck in the neutral zone, there was no defense to beat for Jason Knutson and Semple. Knutson hit an open Semple on the two-on-zero play and the team captain completed the hat trick with just over 10 seconds left in the contest.

Matt Welch picked up the win in goal on the night, making 27 saves, which included two short-handed breakaway opportunities for the visitors.

The two teams will face off again tomorrow night, February 8, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The puck is scheduled to drop at 8:00 p.m.