Roller hockey split four games at the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League (MCRHL) Inter-Regional January 25-26 at Hat Trick Hockey in Palatine, Illinois. The Lions earned a 5-4 overtime win against Slippery Rock and a 3-2 victory over Bethel (Tenn.), but lost to the Pride 5-3 later in the day on Saturday. Lindenwood came up short against Michigan State 3-2 on Sunday, losing in a shootout.
In the first game against Slippery Rock on Saturday, the Lions had to fight back from a two-goal deficit. After the Pride scored in the first 24 seconds, Lindenwood tied it eight minutes later off the blade of
Carter Buehlow, but Slippery Rock added two more tallies in the period, the last coming as the horn sounded.
Nick DellaMorte cut the deficit in half for the Lions just 43-seconds into the second, but the Pride answered five minutes later and carried a 4-2 advantage into the final period.
Brycon Johnson helped the comeback with a power play goal at 4:20, and DellaMorte tied it at even strength with 2:41 remaining in regulation. Johnson scored the game-winner in overtime on a play set up by DellaMorte and
Cody Page.
Lindenwood outshot Slippery Rock 33-21 and
Jacob Robinson saved 17 of 21 shots to earn the victory in goal for the Lions. DellaMorte earned Star #1 honors with two goals and two assists, Johnson received Star #2 recognition with two goals and an assist, and Buehlow earned Star #3 honors with a goal and assist.
Against Bethel, Lindenwood built a 3-1 lead early in the third period and held off the Wildcats in the final 10 minutes of regulation. DellaMorte gave the Lions an early advantage when he broke free on an unassisted play at 1:36, but Bethel responded just over two minutes later. DellaMorte scored again midway through the second for a 2-1 advantage, and
Joe Fordyce extended the margin to two with an unassisted goal at 1:58 in the third, but 10 minutes remained. The Wildcats cut into their deficit at 4:26, but Lindenwood prevented an equalizer down the stretch.
The Lions outshot Bethel 26-21 and Robinson stopped 19 of 21 in goal. For the second game in a row, DellaMorte received Star #1 recognition, this time for his two-goal effort. Robinson posted a .905 save percentage to earn Star #3 honors.
After starting the weekend with two victories, the tide turned against Lindenwood in the final two contests. The Lions outshot Slippery Rock 30-21 overall, but strong goaltending from the Pride limited Lindenwood to just three scores, and the Lions found themselves in a deep hole down 4-0 before finally breaking the shutout on a
Joey Rosa power play goal at 6:23 of the second. Slippery Rock responded with the man-advantage at 9:09, but DellaMorte kept Lindenwood in the game when he scored just 14 seconds later. The Lions still trailed 5-2 at the beginning of the third and could only manage one more goal the rest of the game, coming off the blade of DellaMorte with 85 seconds remaining. Robinson stopped 16 of 21 to take the loss in goal for Lindenwood.
The only game for the Lions on Sunday came down to the final shots in a shootout, but Michigan State prevailed on the scoreboard 3-2. After a scoreless first period, Lindenwood found the back of the net on a Johnson shot at 4:59 in the second. The Lions extended their lead to 2-0 on a short-handed goal from DellaMorte, assisted by
Tyler Watson just 55-seconds into the third, but the Spartans rallied for two in the final 11 minutes to force overtime, and they held Lindenwood shotless in the extra time, sending the game to a shootout. Michigan State shot first and scored, but Johnson did as well for the Lions. In the second round, the Spartans and Dellamorte for Lindenwood both missed, but the Spartans scored in round three.
Nick Berger had a chance to send the shootout to extra rounds, but could not beat the Michigan State goaltender, giving the Spartans the victory.
The Lions outshot the Spartans 26-23 and Robinson saved 20 of 23 shots in regulation and overtime, but earned the loss.
Lindenwood stands at 8-5 overall on the season. After two weekends off, the Lions return to action for Great Plains Collegiate Inline Hockey League play February 14-15 at home. Lindenwood is currently scheduled to face Bethel at 8 p.m. Friday, then face St. Louis Community College – Meramec at 1 p.m. and Bethel again at 5 p.m. on Saturday with all games taking place at Matteson Square Gardens in St. Peters, Missouri.
