The Lions faced off against the NAU Icejacks in a two game set this weekend. Each game had a different feeling and flow.
Friday was a feisty game, with the Lions coming out on top with a 3-2 victory. The Lions took the lead early, on a goal from Chris Manzer. NAU was able to pressure later in the first and in the second, when they would tie the game 1-1. With back and forth chances, the game was tied 1-1 after 2. In the third, NAU would score to take a 2-1 lead with 15 minutes to play. The Lions were able to tie it with a power play goal by Cam Andrade, who fired it past the NAU goalie from the point. The Lions continued to pressure, finishing with the game winning goal. The puck made it to the back side of the slot, where Spencer Engstrom slid it home with 2 minutes to play. NAU would mount some serious pressure as the time ran out, including a net front scramble for the final 10 seconds of the game, but Jason Footlick was able to keep the puck out. The tight ending led to some animosity as the game ended, and some penalties after time expired. Jason Footlick made 32 saves in the win.
The second game on Saturday started the same way, with Chris Manzer scoring early. He picked up an NAU turnover in the slot and put the puck over the goalies glove to take the 1-0 lead. NAU would answer right back only a minute later to tie the score. In the second period, the Lions scored early again, as Spencer Engstrom fired a slot from the circles on a 2-1 rush, to give LMU the 2-1 lead. But once again, NAU answered right back to tie the score 2-2. The rest of the 2nd period, NAU dominated possession and scored two more goals, to lead 4-2 after 2. In the third, the Lions tried to regain some momentum, but a rash of penalties to both teams kept the game from regular flow. NAU was able to score again to go up 5-2. The Lions battled though, as Chris Manzer picked up his second goal of the game, and third of the weekend to cut the score to 5-3. The Lions pushed until the buzzer, pulling the goalie to have a 6 on 4 advantage in the final minutes, but NAU was able to fire a long shot into the empty net to win the game 6-3. This was the first regulation loss for the Lions.
With a record of 4-1-1, the Lions take on Long Beach next Saturday on the road, and then go on the road to Flagstaff, AZ, to play the final two games of the season series vs. NAU.