The Lindenwood men's ice hockey team lost in the final moments of Saturday's contest against No. 3 Ohio, 4-3. The Lions have now dropped two straight games after opening the season with 24 consecutive wins.
Lindenwood opened the scoring five minutes in when
Neeco Belanger scored the team's 13th shorthanded goal of the season. Less than a minute later, the Bobcats evened the score at one. With seven minutes remaining in the first period, Ohio scored again to take a brief one goal lead. Shortyly after,
Ryan Divito would find the back of the net to force a 2-2 game heading into the second.
The Bobcats scored the only tally in the middle period and Lindenwood would tie the game at three on a Michael Sturdevant goal midway through the third. With less than two minutes remaining, the Bobcats would slip the game winner past
Robi Cavallari.
Cavallari faced 23 shots but was surrendered all four scores in defeat.
On Friday, the Lindenwood suffered its first loss of the season, falling 5-2 against Ohio. The Lions had not lost since falling to the very same Bobcats in the semifinals of last year's conference tournament, a span of 29 games.
Ohio opened the scoring with an even strength goal early in the first period. Lindenwood evened the score at one moments later on
Chad Boeckman's 18th goal of the season. The score would remain tied heading into the second.
In the middle period, Ohio would take control scoring twice. Lindenwood would cut the lead to one early in the third on a
Tim Gardner goal, but the Bobcats responded with two more scores to knock off the previously unbeaten Lions.
Cavallari took the loss in net, allowing five goals on 32 shots.
Lindenwood (24-2, 12-2) will conclude its pre-Christmas break schedule next weekend at home against Oklahoma.