After entering bracket play as the number one seed at the 2012 Collegiate Roller Hockey Championships in Kearns, Utah, the Lions appeared to be positioned to win their ninth title, but a stunning 5-4 overtime loss to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) in the quarterfinals ended the season much earlier than expected Friday night.
It was clear from the beginning of the game that UNLV came to play as the Rebels opened a quick 3-0 lead within the first five minutes of the first period. Lindenwood was able to get on the board at the 8:47 mark when Vinny Cafone lit the lamp on the power play with help from Michael Inouye. The Lions would take advantage of several UNLV penalties in the second period as they tied the game with two more power play goals. Cody Kettler scored the first one off a pass from Michael Inouye at 6:09 and Casey Escarcega found the back of the net just over 70 seconds later on an assist from Daniel Inouye.
Lindenwood took its first lead midway through the third period when Kettler picked up his second goal of the game unassisted, but a key hooking penalty left the Lions short-handed and the Rebels jumped on the chance as they scored their only power play goal of the game to even the contest at 4-4 and send the game to overtime. UNLV only needed 87 seconds and one shot attempt to in the extra frame to net the game winner.
The Lions outshot the Rebels 34-26 despite the loss. Kettler led the Lindenwood offense with two goals while Michael Inouye pitched in with two assists. Kevin Dwyer stopped 21 of 26 shots between the pipes.
Earlier in the day, the Lions dominated Arizona State 7-2 in a round of 16 game. Lindenwood jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first off goals from Escarcega from Kettler and Cafone unassisted. The Lions stretched the lead to three when Michael Inouye scored on the second assist of the game from Kettler at the 4:29 mark in the next period. The Sun Devils fought from behind with two goals to make the score 3-2 at the end of the second, but it was all Lindenwood in the final frame as the Lions tallied four unanswered goals. Escarcega scored the first on the power play, assisted by Daniel Inouye. Matt Sexton, Joshua Hackman and Austin Shannon were the other goal scorers for Lindenwood while Kettler picked up one of the assists and Adam Aitken earned the other two.
The Lions outshot Arizona 25-11. Dwyer stopped nine of the 11 shots he faced in goal.
Lindenwood finishes the season with an overall record of 25-1-1. After eight national championships, a runner-up finish and a semifinal appearance, the loss in the quarterfinals marks the earliest exit from the post-season for Lindenwood in the last 11 years.
