Phillip Scherer | Sports Editor
From Print [April 22] Legacy

The Lindenwood Lions roller hockey team captured the program’s tenth National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association Division I championship on Saturday, April 12. This was the second consecutive championship for the team as they defeated Neumann University 2-1 in the championship game.

The championship game began as a defensive struggle, as both the Lions and Neumann combined to put six shots on goal in the first period. After the Lions were successful on the penalty kill halfway through the period, they went into the locker room scoreless at the first intermission.

Early in the second period, the Lions were once again tasked with killing off a penalty after interference was called on forward Joe Bostic. Unlike the first period, however, the Knights from Neumann took advantage of the opportunity with a goal to take a 1-0 lead.

The Knights held this advantage until very late in the period when Bostic came back and tied the score a 1-1with help from an assist from Cody Kettler on a shot that went over the goaltender’s shoulder and off the top crossbar. At the second intermission, the championship game was tied at 1-1.

Straight after coming out of the locker room for the third period, the Lions surged ahead for good on a goal from Brennan Luscombe. Once again, Kettler added an assist on the goal to put the Lions in front 2-1.

The game was temporarily put in doubt when Kettler was put in the penalty box midway through the final period, but the penalty kill performed very well and the Lions held on for a victory.

Lion’s goaltender Brett Humes was named MVP of the championship game as he successfully stopped 17 of the 18 shots he faced. The Lions finish with an overall record of 34-1, including a key semifinal victory against Hofstra University by the score of 10-1.