The No. 1 Lindenwood men's ice hockey team defeated Central Oklahoma, 7-2, Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Lions have now won a school best 16 straight games to start the season.
Central Oklahoma opened the scoring just 42 seconds into the contest, but Lindenwood would retaliate with three goals before the period would conclude. Grant Gorcyzca scored his second goal as in many days and Neeco Belanger doubled that feat scoring shortly thereafter. Cory Spradling scored on the power play to give the Lions a three goal cushion.
Spradling notched his second score early in the second period and Ian Coppersmith tallied another. Central Oklahoma answered with a score of its own, but consecutive scores by Jake Ebner and Alex Roth put the game away. Roth's tally was the second power play goal of the day for the Lions.
Chris Abbott got the start in goal stopping 15 of 17 shots.
On Friday, the Lions skated to a 7-3 win over Central Oklahoma.
Lindenwood, who led 1-0 after the first period and 4-1 after the second, outshot the Bronchos 54-38. After Central Oklahoma tied the game early in the second, the Lions responded with three goals in the final four minutes of the period. Chad Boeckman netted a power play goal to put Lindenwood ahead for good and Ebner scored less than a minute later to stretch the lead to two. Boeckman added his second goal with seconds remaining in the frame.
Once again, Central Oklahoma converted the first score to start the third period. Minutes later, Brett Morrell scored his fourth goal of the year. Belanger added a power play score and Gorczyca recorded a shorthanded goal to cap the scoring for the Lions.
Kurtis Astle scored his seventh goal of the year early in the first. The Bronchos scored a goal late in the third period after the game was in hand.
Robi Cavallari stopped 35 shots to earn the victory against a team who had won nine straight coming into tonight's contest. Adam Krefski, Astle, Belanger and Boeckman each finished with two assists apiece.
Lindenwood (16-0, 8-0) will travel to Eastern Michigan next weekend for a pair of conference games, beginning Friday at 8:30 p.m.
