Byron Center, Mich. – The Saints took on fellow Grand Rapids school, Davenport University, for double header action this weekend (Dec. 2-3). AQ picked up a massive 10-3 victory on Friday to kick off the two-game series against the Panthers. This was the first time since January 31, 2020 that the Saints scored double-digit goals. The dominance continued into the second game of the series on Saturday as AQ picked up another win, this time with a 4-0 result.

Aquinas now improves to 7-5 on the season with a 5-3 CCWHA record.  

Game 1: Aquinas 10, Davenport 3

Aquinas would be the ones to dominate the first quarter, but Davenport was the only team to score. DU started the scoring 13 minutes and 18 seconds into the period to take a 1-0 lead thanks to a power play opportunity. AQ maintained the pressure in Davenport's third of the ice, but failed to get past the Panther's net minder. DU took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission despite being outshot 15-6.

The scoring party began for the Saints halfway through the second period. With 12:28 left on the clock, Lauren Tulloch scored the first goal of the night. Alyssa Exline and Olivia Menard provided the helpers on the goal.

Just a minute and 31 seconds later, Natalie Vaitas gave the Saints the lead with a goal of her own. Madison Morgrette assisted the goal, her second of the season. 28 seconds later, Exline got in on the scoring to give the Saints a two-goal lead. Lauryn Wood and Darbi Poole was be the ones to assist the Exline goal.

Davenport got a goal back to reduce the deficit to just one goal, but AQ immediately responded with yet another goal. This time, it would be Chloe Donnelly to take a turn scoring. Morgrette got her second assist of the night while Julia DeHondt got her second assist of the season.

The second period ended with the score at 4-2 in favor of the Saints. AQ put a whopping 29 shots on target in comparison to DU's six shots.

The floodgates completely opened in the third period as Aquinas poured on six more goals. Davenport scored one more, but it was just a consolation goal with the Saints taking the game 10-3. Kylie Rancilio, Reyna Dominczak, Poole, Anna Castle, and Jenna Blackwell all scored in the third period with Dominczak scoring two goals. In total, nine different Saints found the back of the net during the blowout victory.

Ashley Suske was credited with the win as she saved 17 of 20 shots on net for a .850 save percentage.

Game 2: Aquinas 4, Davenport 0

The Saints kicked off the first period in a similar fashion to the first game, outshooting Davenport 15-2. However, this time the Saints were the first to score. With just 5:15 remaining on the clock, Poole scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season. Exline and Wood were credited with the assists on the goal.

Davenport had a couple of power play chances and a couple of open shots throughout the first period, but the score remained 1-0 with both teams heading into the locker rooms.

The second period was very quiet with a lot of clean hockey. AQ once again dominated the possession and shots on net, leading 15-4 in the second period. DU would get a late power play opportunity, but the Saints would easily kill it off. Neither team managed to score despite a couple of close calls from both teams. The score still remained 1-0 with the third period looming.

Aquinas continued to dominate in the third period as the Saints continued to hold the puck in Davenport's third of the ice for a majority of the period. The flood gates would finally break open for the Saints starting with a goal halfway through period. Morgrette scored the second goal of the game while Wood picked up her second assist of the game.

With 4:40 left on the clock, the Saints got the puck past the Davenport goalie again. This time, Exline would be the one to slot the puck into the back of the net. Poole and Wood were get credited with the assist, giving Wood her third assist of the night.

AQ scored one more time to make the score 4-0 with just a minute and nine seconds left on the clock. Tulloch got in on the action this time with Castle assisting the goal.

Suske started in net again and save all 11 of DU's shots on net for a perfect 1.000 save percentage. In total, AQ outshot Davenport 56-11.

The Saints have a long break from the ice and will take on #4 Indiana Tech to start the new year on January 11th. That game will be played at SportONE Ice House in Fort Wayne, Indiana with a 3:15 PM puck drop time.