The Lindenwood Lions men’s hockey team played their first home games of the 2023-2024 season against Augustana Vikings in a two game series at the Centene Community Ice Center on Nov. 10.
Before the start of the game, there was a ceremonial puck drop by Seeger Toyota as they were the game sponsor.
In the first 90 seconds of the game, the Lions lost the opening faceoff and started playing the game on the defensive side. However, they quickly recovered the puck and started playing offensively.
Throughout the opening period, the Lions were playing very psychically, as Lions defenseman Kieran Ruscheniski laid a huge hit on an Augustana player. Shortly after the hit, Lindenwood found themselves in their own zone which allowed Augustana to score the game’s first goal, scored by Vikings forward Callum Gau.
“I thought it was an offsides play,” Lindenwood Lions men’s ice hockey coach Rick Zombo said. “Video review didn’t work. All games are 60 minutes. You like to start with a lead, but it’s a part of the program.”
After the goal was scored, the Lions regained control of the puck, not allowing the Vikings to get a shot on goal. This generated offensive led to the Lions to score. The goal was scored by Lions forward Cade DeStefani. As the opening period winded down, Lindenwood had a shot on goal, but the shot hit the crossbar. However, the missed shot allowed the Vikings to score their second goal of the game leading the Lions 2-1 as both teams entered the second period with the Lions being on the power play.
“I was happy,” Zombo said. “I had four lines going. Three sets of D. We were able to get deep into our bench. That really wasn’t my game plan for the first period.”
To begin the second period, the Lions began on the power play as the Vikings drew a penalty from the opening period.
“Our power play has been dismal all season,” Zombo said. “It’s important that the guys understand that they have the ability. Don’t make things more complicated.
Lindenwood won the opening faceoff to start the second period and started generating offense. However, they found themselves in their own zone, which didn’t last long.
While the period seemed to favor Lindenwood, Augustana seemed to find a way to break the Lions’ offensive plays and make the Lions play defense. However, this cost the Vikings to go on the penalty kills once again as Vikings forward Luke Mobley was called for two minutes for cross-checking on the Lions’ Ruscheniski.
Halfway through the second period, the Lions and Vikings were neck and neck, as both teams did not allow for the other team to score. Both teams were playing offensively and defensively. The score remains 2-1 in favor of the Vikings.
As time winded down in the second period, both teams were still neck and neck, however, Lindenwood managed to gain momentum which allowed them to tie the game 2-2. The second Lions goal was scored by forward Caige Sterzer. Just when the game seemed to be going in Lindenwood’s favor, the Vikings struck again. The third Vikings goal was scored by Mobley as the Vikings led the Lions 3-2 heading into the third period.
“You gotta play to win,” Zombo said. “This team has never quit.”
To begin the third period, the Lions started off just like the previous two periods, finding themselves in their own zone, playing defense in the first five minutes of the third period. Despite playing defensively, the Lions managed to get short bursts of momentum, but their shots were either saved by the Vikings goaltender Zack Rose, missed the net, or shot wide.
Halfway through the third period, Lindenwood struggled to generate offense like in the previous two periods. However, Lindenwood’s luck changed when forward Caleb Price tied the game, 3-3. While the shots on goal didn’t favor the Lions, they continued the pressure on Augustana generating scoring chances.
As time winded down in the third period, the Lions found their footing. They stopped playing defense and seemingly focused on playing offensively. This move paid off at the end of regulation, as the Lions and Vikings went into overtime.
To start overtime, the Lions won the opening faceoff. However, the Lions coughed up the puck to the Vikings which allowed Mobley to score and win the game 4-3 as the Augustana Vikings defeated the Lindenwood Lions in game one of the series.
“I wasn’t happy with the result,” Zombo said. “Very happy with the way that we played.”
The Lions split the series with the Vikings with a 5-3 win on Saturday’s night game. The Lions are back on home ice on Nov. 17 in a two-game series against Long Island University at the Centene Community Ice Center.
