Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Fall to Defending National Champions
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CU Hockey Media Relations
HUDSONVILLE, Mich. -- Colorado sophomore goaltender Kevin Litinsky played one of his best games all season, but it wasnGÇÖt enough as the defending champions Davenport Panthers scored four third period goals en route to their 5-1 victory over the Buffs on Wednesday at the Georgetown Ice Arena.
With the loss on the second day of pool play at the ACHA D-II National Championships, the Buffs (24-13-1) are eliminated from the semifinals on Friday, while the Panthers (39-3-1) will advance to their fourth straight final four.
At the end of the first period the game was tied at zero, but DU looked like the faster team and originally scored midway through the period.
However, the referees gathered after the goal and determined that Litinsky had made the save prior to the puck supposedly going across the goal line.
CU took the momentum they had gathered in the first, and came out in the second period flying.
It only took 40 seconds into the period for them to find the back of the net, as sophomore Conor Williams got a great pass from junior Scott Tittle and put it past DU goaltender Chris Joswiak for the first goal of the game
Unfortunately, the CU goal lit a fire under the Panthers, as Kevin Doyle answered for the defending champions midway through the period to tie the game up at one apiece.
Colorado was hoping to start the third with the same energy as they had in the second, but it was all Davenport as they beat Litinsky four times in the period.
First it was Rick Gadwa, just 2:19 into the period with an assist from Tom Dowell, and then Dowell would get a goal himself midway through the third.
Doyle would get his second goal of the game with just 6:44 remaining against a desperate Buffalo squad, and then Ben Dykstra would put the dagger in CU for good with DUGÇÖs fifth goal with 3:52 left to play.
Though the score may seem like CU didnGÇÖt come to play, it doesnGÇÖt tell the whole story. The Buffs came out hungry and confident versus a team they only lost 4-2 to earlier in the season at the Grand Valley Invitational.
Litinsky single-handedly kept the Buffaloes in the game as he made amazing save after amazing save against the best team in the country.
Colorado will finish off pool play and nationals tomorrow versus the Miami (OH) Red Hawks (13-9-1) at 11:00 am (MT).
Watch the game live at: http://www.livesportsvideo.com/
Stay tuned to www.cubuffshockey.org for complete updates on your Colorado Hockey Team as they finish off nationals and prepare for the 2009-10 season.