SHREVEPORT, Louisiana – Opening up their season at George's Pond against Dallas Baptist University, the East Texas Baptist University hockey came away empty handed in both meetings as they started their season 0-2. Game one saw DBU defeat ETBU 6-1 while game two was a 6-2 victory for the Patriots.
Game 1: DBU 6, ETBU 1
The first period was tight from the start. ETBU was given three power play opportunities in the period, but were unable to capitalize on any of them. DBU would get the first goal from captain Trenton Lee (14:58) as the Patriots struck first for a 1-0 lead. ETBU would be given two more penalties as they ended the period down two men and a goal.
The two men advantage helped DBU as they would capitalize forty seconds into the second period from Brett Stevens to make it 2-0. Six minutes later, Spence Cowand gave the Patriots a 3-0 lead. The Patriots would tack on a goal from Patrick Lee for a 4-0 lead at 16:52.
Six minutes into the third period, Trenton Lee (6:00) on a third power play made it 5-0. Everett Beavers (13:30) would then get a rebound off a shot and tally the sixth goal for a 6-0 edge. ETBU would finally break through at 15:50 as Skyler Spiller would end the shutout to make it 6-1. But that was all the Tigers would get in the first game.
Game 2: DBU 6, ETBU 1
The first period was more of the same for the most part as Game 1 although ETBU had more chances to score in the first period. But they were unable to capitalize on two power play opportunities while successfully killing off a penalty. DBU's goalie, Cooper Cothran continued to thwart off shot after shot and the period ended with a scoreless 0-0 tie.
The second period was a different story as each team combined to score five goals. Trenton Lee (5:38) started the scoring nearly six minutes before Stevens tallied a second goal for a 2-0 lead (8:47). ETBU finally got on the board when Davis VanGemerden snuck one past Cothran to cut the deficit to 2-1 (10:56). Then, Devon Baird tied the score with a power play goal at 15:28. But fifty-four seconds later, DBU retook the lead on a goal from Lane Haught. The Patriots kept the 3-2 lead going into the third period.
ETBU was unable to capitalize on an early power play to start the third period and Stevens would make ETBU pay when he struck his second goal of the game (6:38) to make it 4-2. Cowand then added two insurance goals (10:08, 13:53), with the first one being on a power play that would extend the lead to 6-2.
ETBU will head out to Olive Branch, Mississippi, where they will have two games against Ole Miss next weekend. Friday's game starts ay 9:15 PM while Saturday's game will take place at 4:15 PM.
