Lindenwood used three third-period goals to defeat Ohio 6-3 in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League championship game Sunday afternoon at Bird Arena.
The win means Lindenwood ran the gauntlet against CSCHL competition this season, going a perfect 18-0-0, including three wins over the Bobcats. But Sunday’s game was anything but easy, at least for the first 45 or so minutes.
The Lions came out firing to start the game when Steve Brancheau put one past Ohio goaltender Teddy Dushkin just 2:10 in as the Lions controlled the opening salvos.
But a pair of penalties on the Lions turned around the momentum as Ohio’s Brett Agnew scored on a backhander from close range to even things up 10 minutes in. Two minutes later, Ohio took the lead when Tom Whetsel scored on a rebound opportunity from an Agnew shot.
The game remained 2-1 heading into the second, but just 27 seconds into the period Grant Gorczyca shot a slapper from the blue line that got between Dushkin’s legs to even the game. The Lions then took back the lead through Neeco Belanger at the 9:11 mark after a bad turnover by Ohio in the defensive zone.
But Agnew again responded for the Bobcats, scoring after a rebound from a Josh Fodor shot landed on his stick to tie it up 3-3. Each side had chances to take the lead in the closing parts of the period, but neither took advantage.
And it was the Bobcats who looked the better of the two squads to start the third, controlling possession and territory. But a penalty turned the momentum once again, as a tripping call on Ohio’s John Luciana was punished when a Brancheau shot deflected up and over Dushkin at the 12:45 mark.
Ohio had a chance to even things up with their own man-advantage chance just moments later, but disaster struck when Dushkin turned the puck over to Joe Bostic in the corner. Bostic slid a pass to Niklas Bunnstdet, who threw the puck in an open net for Lindenwood’s fifth.
The goal broke the Bobcat’s backs, and when Gorczyca scored his second at the 9:07 mark to make the score 6-3, it was all over.
Josh Fodor scored a consolation goal for Ohio with two minutes left, but it was too little, too late as Lindenwood won the William W. Easton Cup back from Ohio by a score of 6-4.
Brancheau was named MVP of the tournament for his two-goal effort, while Agnew was Ohio’s MVP, tallying two goals and two assists in the loss.
Lindenwood goalie Kent Henry made 21 saves in the win. Dushkin stopped 16 of the 23 shots the Lions put on his goal before being pulled after Lindenwood’s last tally. Brendan Madden stopped the only two shots he saw in relief.
Ohio will be back on the Bird Arena ice next weekend against Adrian in the home season-finale. Faceoff Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Quick Stats
Shots on goal: Ohio 25, Lindenwood 24
Ohio goal scorers: Agnew (2), Whetsel, Fodor
Lindenwood goal scorers: Brancheau (2), Gorczyca (2), Bunnstedt, Belanger
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