April 14, 2013
Lindenwood University is your 2013 Division I Champion!
After being absent from the Division I Championship game for two consecutive years, Lindenwood found themselves in a battle for the title against the Spartans of Michigan State. Seats were at a premium when the puck dropped and you could cut the tension with a knife.
From the opening drop, Lindenwood controlled the game and was very patient in their offense. The Lions was just waiting for right time to strike but it was Michigan State that struck first. The captain, Aaron Rivkin, ripped a shot that goalie Kevin Dwyer didn’t get a big enough piece of and the puck found a way cross the goal line.
Michigan State had a 1-0 lead in the first due in large part to Jason Stross who made one outstanding save after another. But with just under two minutes to go Lindenwood would score their first goal off the stick of Brennan Luscombe. The first period ended with score tied at 1.
As the game progressed, both teams was playing somewhat passive and because of that, no penalties were assessed through the two periods. Lindenwood had crisp passing all game and it paid off in a tic-tac-toe play in which Alex Carroll found the back of the net. Lindenwood’s Korey Klable put one past the Michigan State goaltender with two and half minutes left to give the Lions a two goal advantage.
The second period ended with Lindenwood up 3-1. The Spartans started the third pressing a little harder and skating a bit faster. Unfortunately for MSU, the Lions came back in the third period with their fourth unanswered goal, this one by Daniel Inouye. Michigan State was able to cut the lead down to three as Zach Paul found a way to bury the puck giving the Spartans a glimmer of hope to get back in the game. But Lindenwood’s Alex Carroll scored his second goal only a minute and a half later to put LU up 5-2. Lindenwood started to taste victory as Robert Berman scored just twenty seconds after Carroll with four minutes left in the game.
Michigan State was unable to capitalize on some scoring chances and that is how the game ended. The gloves and sticks were thrown in the air as Lindenwood flash mobbed their net and Lindenwood went on to win 6-2. With that, Lindenwood won their eighth National Championship in twelve years. Congratulations to Lindenwood University on an outstanding season and even better national tournament.
Five Lindenwood players have earned a championship in the past, in their 2010 championship run. Daniel Inouye, Casey Escarcega, Joseph D'Amico, Elliott Linton and Adam Aitken were on both the 2010 and 2013 championship team. But for the rest of the team who have had to battle for the last several years, they have now tasted sweet success, earning their first national championship!