The rink was packed with over 400 rowdy fans, and the Lions took to the ice for their opening game of the season. While LMU controlled play in the first, Long Beach would score first on a screened point shot. They would double their lead a few minutes later on a screen shot from the slot that found the top corner.
But the Lions would get going, exciting the crowd who were anxious for a comeback. Connor Kaczmarek would score first, stealing the puck at the blue line and scoring five hole on a short breakaway. The Lions would tie the game late in the first period as Sebastian Cigarran would find the net in his first game as a Lion.
The second was all LMU, as the Lions scored 4 goals in the period. Chris Manzer beat an icing call, and took the puck from behind to net to tuck it home just a minute into the second, the eventual game winner. On the next shift Adam Nishino would do the same, taking the puck wide and cutting across the slot to score, his first as a Lion. Halfway through the period the Lions would score again, as Ryan Brown had a point shot drop to his feet on the back door and he slid it in for the goal. Finally, Bryson Martin tipped home a point shot to give the Lions the 6-2 lead heading into the third.
The third had a much different feel, as the time moved quickly without many stoppages. A back and forth period saw no scoring, giving the Lions the 6-2 victory to go 1-0 on the season.
Sophomore Colton Marcy got the win in net for the Lions, making a number of good saves in the third period. He faced 24 shots on the night for the win.
The Lions are off on their first trip of the season next weekend, to take on SJSU and Cal.