It was a tough day on the ice for the Lindenwood men’s hockey team as they faced a 9-1 defeat against the formidable #6 Michigan. Head Coach Rick Zombo expressed his disappointment, emphasizing the importance of playing a full sixty-minute game and maintaining even strength. Unfortunately, the team faced a setback when a five-minute major penalty forced a veteran player out of the lineup, putting the responsibility on younger players to step up.
From the start, Michigan set the tone with a goal just 40 seconds into the match, putting the Lions on the back foot. The Wolverines extended their lead to 2-0 with another goal at 7:28. However, Lindenwood managed to find the back of the net at 15:42, thanks to Caige Sterzer who scored on a pass from Kyle Jeffers.
The second and third periods proved to be challenging for the Lions as Michigan scored four goals in the second period and three in the third. Trent Burnham, the Lions’ goalkeeper, made 24 saves but conceded six goals in 40 minutes of play. In the final 20 minutes, Matthew Syverson took over and made 12 saves but let in three goals.
The two teams will face off again on Saturday, October 28th at 6:00 p.m. CST. It will be another opportunity for Lindenwood to bounce back and show their resilience on the ice.