The Lions fell to Indiana University 3-1 in the semifinals of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Men's Division II National Championship at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Lindenwood entered the tournament as the top ranked team in the Central Region but ran into a Hoosiers squad that displayed great defense and goaltending.
The Lions had multiple chances to score throughout the game, the first coming just over five minutes into the contest when Indiana was called for interference, but Lindenwood was called for embellishment on the play, so the two sides skated four-on-four with neither squad scoring. The Lions had to kill off a cross checking penalty before they had their own power play opportunity on a hooking call on the Hoosiers at 16:34, but the first period ended in a 0-0 tie.
Indiana was called for three penalties in the second, but Lindenwood couldn't capitalize on any of them. The Lions successfully killed off a cross checking call early in the period, but a tripping penalty at 11:40 led to the Hoosiers first goal at 12:39 and they carried a 1-0 lead into the final frame.
Lindenwood pressed the action in the third to get an equalizer and the Lions were able to get several shots on net, but Indiana continued to defend well. Then, a mishap with the puck led to a Hoosiers steal resulting in an unassisted effort at 9:47 to give Indiana a 2-0 advantage.
A roughing penalty on Lindenwood at 14:43 threatened to expand the margin even more, but the Lions kept the deficit at just two. Time was running out in the game when the Hoosiers were called for interference with 1:59 remaining. Lindenwood pulled goaltender
Ethan Paulin-Hatch to go six-on-four and the strategy paid off.
Stanley Lucas sounded the horn on a play set up by
Jacob Behnen and
Austin Meers at 18:42 and the Lions were within one.
After the ensuing faceoff, Lindenwood waited to get possession in the offensive zone and then pulled Paulin-Hatch again, but this time, the Hoosiers were able to gain possession of the puck and score an empty-netter to seal a 3-1 victory.
The Lions outshot Indiana 32-26 and Paulin-Hatch stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced in the loss. Lindenwood went 1/5 on the power play while yielding a goal to the Hoosiers on four, man-advantage chances. Indiana ultimately defeated Miami (Ohio) University 5-4 in overtime to win the ACHA D2 national title.
The Lions complete the 2023-24 season with an overall record of 31-10 after advancing to the national semifinals for the third time in the last four seasons.
