Lindenwood Continues their Streak of Championships- The Lions take home another Division III title

The Lindenwood Lions have a storied past at all levels in our sport.  The road during the regular season isn’t always easy.  The playoffs are always tougher.  To be behind in two championship games in a row and fight back to win...you would put the odds against that team.  Looking at Lions goaltender Brennan Sowa, it has been his road for the last 4 years.  Regardless of the situation, even some he puts himself into, it’s been a team effort that has done them well in front of their solid goaltending.  Whether it was Michigan State or Arizona State, even West Chester, it hasn’t mattered to the Lions....Neumann is just another opponent.

Neumann University won the Division I Championship the night before and had all of their supporters on hand.  Lindenwood maintained their crowd support as well and again had the majority in the crowd.  The paths for both teams were similar through pool play and both somewhat cruised through the elimination bracket.  The stage was set and away Neumann went. 

It was almost a game’s worth of action within the first period, with end to end action and 22 shots being taken by both teams.  There were 8 penalties, 3 power play goals, and Greg Saklad already had a hat trick for Neumann.  The Knights were up on Lindenwood 5-2 after 1 period and that was just the first 12 minutes.  The crowd was going nuts, both benches were pushing for more, kind of like going to war.  There was so much intensity and I had the best seat in the house, inside the glass between both benches. 

There was an interesting silence as the 2nd period got going.  Lindenwood had control of the puck and moved up into a hook by Neumann which not only got them a power play, but seconds in, a 2 man advantage.  The Lions connected with Spencer Marquiss and Jeff Arscott getting the Lions back in it.  Parker Poore now had 3 assists on the day, helping on both of these tallies.  The teams then traded penalties and shots, 22 by both teams in the 2nd period.  Neumann still had the 5-4 lead. 

Both teams then slowed the game down in the 3rd period, almost to a crawl.  They played chess, waiting for the other team to make mistakes and jump on them.  Lindenwood did get the jump, as Alex Griffith found some space and hit Mark Birchall for the tying goal about 5 minutes into the 3rd.  The game then saw penalty #19 be the costly one as Neumann's Saklad was sent off for tripping with less than 3 minutes left in the game.  Lindenwood was given the golden power play chance.  Griffith across to Parker Poore and he puts it in!  Lindenwood is ahead for the first time with a minute and a half to go.  Brennan Sowa made it interesting though taking a roughing penalty in front of his own net.  Neumann had 5 attackers against 3 Lion defenders and Sowa.  30 seconds left and they held on.  Lindenwood’s penalty killers blocked several shots in the final moments, battling through and earning another championship for their school.

For most of the Lindenwood players this has become the continuation of a dynasty.  Some players haven't lost a championship game in years, as well as some new players tasting it for the first time.  The storied tradition and winning ways of the Lindenwood continue on and we all look forward to what next year holds.