The Dordt Defenders took on the Creighton Blue Jays for the second time in as many days. The Defenders came out on top with a 7-4 decision moving their win streak to seven games.
The Defenders got the lead early and never lost it. They began the scoring with a goal by Alex Espenson with 14:59 left in the first period. The Defenders won a face-off in their defensive zone and got the puck out to Jonah Weems that gave the Defenders a two on one break. Weems slotted the puck over to Espenson who buried it in the back of the net for the opening score.
Less than a minute later, Lucas Van Berkel but his name in the score column with a goal assisted by Griffin Lennes and Ryler Schelle. Griffin Lennes won a face-off, this time in the offensive zone, that found Van Berkel who put the puck in on the back post to go up 2-0.
With 8:31 left in the first period, Alex Espenson scored his second and Dordt's third of the game. The Blue Jays turned the puck over in their defensive zone and the puck ended up in Espenson's possession. Espenson took the puck behind the goal and took a wrist shot for the goal. The Defenders would enter the first intermission with a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Jays came out with back to back goals in the second period with 16:47 left and 9:59 left to cut the Defender lead 3-2. The first goal was scored by Caden Lacher and assisted by Kyle Hogan. The second goal was scored by Sam Hingsberger and assisted by Chuck Altier. The Defenders would answer right back with 8:55 left in the game off an unassisted goal from Mason Carrels. Lennes took a shot that was saved by the goalie, Ryan Lee's pad, but it found a wide open Carrels coming across the blue line where he took a low shot to the back post to find the net and extend the lead to 4-2.
Creighton didn't quit as Kyle Hogan put a goal in with 8:06 left in the second period, assisted by Sam Hingserger. Taylor De Jager scored about two minutes later with 6:16 left in the period. The Defenders forced another turnover in the offensive zone and the puck found De Jager standing just in front of the blue line and he took a quick shot that snuck into at the front post to go up 5-3.
Once again the Blue Jays fought back with a goal scored by Sam Cook, assisted by Charles Rieser and Jack Scwab with 3:54 left in the second period. Griffin Lennes put in one more goal before the break with 50 seconds remaining in the period. The Defenders found themselves with a power play and Lennes was at the top of the zone. Lennes took his time and picked his spot with a wrist shot that gave the Defenders their sixth goal of the game.
The Defenders would secure a victory with two seconds remaining in the game off a empty net goal scored by Griffin Lennes. Lennes won a loose puck in the Defenders' defensive zone and he poked it around a Blue Jays defender with an empty net in front of him where he casually flicked it into the goal.
By the numbers:
- Dordt took 39 shots on goal and scored seven of them
- Creighton took 37 shots on goal and scored four of them
- All four of Creighton's goals were scored in the second period
- The Defenders scored one power play goal and one short handed goal
- The Blue Jays scored one power play goal
- Graeme Edmund tallied 22 saves on 26 shots and allowed four goals
- Charlie Lang entered the game at the start of the third period and came away 11 saves on 11 shots and no goals allowed
- Ryan Lee had 32 saves on 39 shots and seven goals allowed
The Defenders improve to 10-3-0 and find themselves leading the MD3 MACHA Silver Central Division with 26 points. The Defenders will take the ice again next Friday and Saturday, November 17 and 18, when they host the Marian University Sabres in Sioux Center.
