RECAP
Last weekend, the Patriots ice hockey team took on Grand Canyon University at home in a two-game series.  DBU came out on top, winning the games 3-0 and 6-4.  

GAME 1
The Patriots came out firing in game one, outshooting the Lopes 18-8, but could not find the back of the net as the first ending in a 0-0 tie.  DBU brought more of the same in the second, continuing to outshoot the Lopes, yet were unable to put anything on the scoreboard.  Finally, early in the third period, Christian Beckett broke the tie with a nifty shot, giving the Patriots a 1-0 lead.  With DBU on the board, the puck started to find itself in the net more often.  Just three minutes later, Patriot defender Derek Braaten made it 2-0, capitalizing on a power play.  The goals continued to stack as Jaylen Mendez scored another powerplay goal just two minutes later making it 3-0.  The Patriots defensive effort held strong all game and were able to keep the Lopes scoreless to secure the 3-0 shutout.

GAME 2

Unlike game one, the Patriots made sure to get on the board early behind a Christian Beckett goal just four minutes in.  As the rest of the period played out, DBU continued to put pressure on the Lopes with accurate shots on goal, leading the attempts 18-5, yet were kept from scoring again.  However, in the final minutes of the first, defenseman Derek Braaten was able to find the back of the net on a slick one-timer set up by John Canavan and Jaylen Mendez, a perfect set of passes to score.  In the second period, Beckett notched his second goal, improving the Patriots lead to three.  But just when it looked like DBU could seal the game early, the Lopes answered back.  A minute after Beckett's goal, GCU found the net for the first time over the weekend, keeping themselves in the game.  To open the third, Everett Beavers scored his first goal of the year, capitalizing on a powerplay just a minute into the period.  However, with a goal on the board, the Lopes answered back with two quick goals, climbing back into the game with the momentum to claim the comeback.  In spite of that, Beckett put a stop to the bleeding and secured a hat trick, putting the Patriots back up 5-3.  Canavan added an insurance goal, slipping one more past the Lopes netminder to bring DBU's total to six.  The Lopes snagged one more point as the clock winded down, but the Patriot lead was too much to overcome.   DBU held on for the 6-4 win, closing out the series with a sweep Grand Canyon University, opening their three-weekend homestand on a positive note.   

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