Four third period goals led to a 7-2 win for Grand Valley State in the first contest in pool play for the Dordt Defenders in ACHA Division 3 National Championship hockey on Tuesday, March 18.

Box Score (PDF)

Grand Valley State started the scoring with a pair of goals in the first period before  Dordt's Rylan Veenstra scored on an assist from Noah Wilmes.  The rest of the period was scoreless with Isaiah Van Noord making 14 saves in goal for the Defenders to help keep it close.

A Levi Loken goal with the assist from Veenstra less than a minute into the second period evened the score.  Two minutes later the Lakers regained the lead and held a 3-2 lead after two periods as they outshot Dordt in the first 40 minutes 31-19.

The 3-2 score held until the midpoint of the third when four goals over a nine-minute span made the final 7-2.

THE NUMBERS
Dordt was outshot 49-25
Isaiah Van Noord had 42 saves
Rylan Veenstra | 1 goal | 1 assist
Noah Wilmes | 1 assist
Levi Loken | 1 goal

NEXT
Dordt will face Hope on Wednesday, March 19 at 6:15pm. Hope and Michigan State play tonight at 8pm.  Pool play concludes on Thursday, March 20 with Dordt facing Michigan State.