LU-Belleville Shocks No. 8 Mo. Valley

BELLEVILLE, Ill.—Lindenwood-Belleville picked up its biggest win of the year on Sunday as the Lynx upset No. 8 Missouri Valley, 7-3.

"I'm really proud of our team, especially our seniors, as they fought hard all game" said head coach Dan Mertzlufft. "It was a good measuring stick game for us with Missouri Valley winning the GRLC Championship two years in a row."

"They've got a great squad, but we were the better team today," he continued. "We got after it with our defense playing well and senior goalie Andy Kunkmueller playing a great game, as well. Overall, I'm really happy for our guys. They earned this."

The Lynx (2-0) outshot the Vikings (0-1), 28-21 on the afternoon along with winning 8-of-12 faceoffs. Lindenwood-Belleville was led offensively by Cody Fincher and Lucas Hartmann, with each netting two goals and combining for eight shots.

Nile Cyr, Andrew Vance and John Gilmore were the other Lynx players to find the back of the net. In goal, Kunkmueller came up big on numerous occasions, finishing with seven saves.

Missouri Valley got goals from Greg Ferrone, John Milani and Owen Sorobey. In goal, Brandon Marshall was busy for the Vikings, making a game-high 13 saves.

After battling for possession early in the first quarter, the Lynx were able to break through. Vance ripped a shot by Marshall to give the hosts a 1-0 lead just 2:32 into the contest.

The Lynx maintained that lead heading into the second. In the second quarter, Fincher made his way around the net, fooling both the goalie and his defender, scoring on a no-look shot with 8:34 remaining in the half to push the Lindenwood-Belleville lead to 2-0.

Kunkmueller and Marshall both saw plenty of action in net, with each making four saves in the second while combining for 13 overall.

In the third, Cyr scored 50 seconds in off an assist from Cody Trella to extend the lead to 3-0.

Missouri Valley answered three minutes later on a John Milani goal to cut the deficit to 3-1. Gilmore countered for the Lynx to balloon the lead back to three (4-1). Owen Sorobey trimmed the lead back to two for the Vikings with a goal.

They Lynx used their special teams to expand the advantage. Hartmann scored a pair of extra-man goals -- the second off a dish from Fincher -- to give LUB a 6-2 lead. Fincher netted one of his own with 6:15 remaining in the contest to round out the Lynx scoring and provide a 7-2 bulge.

The Vikings added a goal with 5:57 left to narrow it to 7-3, but with a stout defense and Kunkmueller in goal, that was more than enough for the Lynx to hang on for its first-ever victory over the Vikings.

The Lynx will now relax for a week before returning to the field, as they'll host St. Ambrose on March 5. The game is slated to start at 2 p.m.