The Lions won the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) Division I National Championship with a 7-2 victory over Slippery Rock Saturday night at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

In a rematch from pool play, Lindenwood jumped in front of the Rock with two early goals in the opening period. Christian Acosta netted the first with help from Nick Berger at the 6:44 mark, and then Brandon Kerst set up Eric Kurpiewski at 8:12, but then Slippery Rock mounted a comeback.

A high sticking penalty on the Lions late in the first gave the Rock a power play and they capitalized with 27-seconds remaining. Slippery Rock then tied the contest at 2-2 with another man-advantage goal 2:38 into the second, but Lindenwood took over from there.

A cross-checking call on the Rock midway through the period gave the Lions an opportunity and Berger sounded the horn at 6:21 with help from Brycon Johnson and Nick DellaMorte. Less than a minute later, DellaMorte split the pipes, assisted by Berger and it was 4-2 Lindenwood.

The Lions continued to extend their lead in the third, starting with a Joe Fordyce goal at 3:09, with another helper from DellaMorte. Trailing 5-2 with less than three minutes to go, Slippery Rock pulled the goalie for the extra attacker, but Kurpiewski hit the empty net off a pass from Johnson at 9:46. DellaMorte then stole the puck late and scored unassisted with 45-seconds left in regulation for the final margin.

The Lions outshot the Rock 33 to 11, and Jacob Robinson stopped nine of the 11 pucks he faced to earn the championship win in goal. DellaMorte was named Star No. 1 with his two goal, two assist effort, Berger earned Star No. 2 honors with a goal and two assists, and Kurpiewski was named Star No. 3 with two goals.

With the victory, Lindenwood won its 11^th national title in program history and first since 2014, and also completed the 2021-22 season with a perfect 17-0 collegiate record.

Earlier on Saturday, the Lions defeated No. 4 seed Bethel University (Tenn.) D2, 5-1 in the semifinals. After giving up a goal to the Wildcats in the opening eight-seconds of the game, Lindenwood scored the next five to pull away for the victory.

Special teams played a key role in the opening frame as the Lions netted their first two on the power play. Johnson lit the lamp with 3:14 remaining, followed by a DellaMorte effort at 11:28 to make it 2-1 Lindenwood. Nathan Durrans made an impact in the second period when he assisted a Berger goal at 6:35, and then found the back of the net himself with help from Acosta just 35-seconds later. It remained 4-2 Lions through the rest of the second and most of the third period until Kerst added an unassisted empty-netter with 55-seconds left in regulation for the final margin.

Lindenwood outshot Bethel 26 to 14 and Robinson stopped 13 of the 14 shots he faced to earn the win in goal. Acosta was named Star No. 1 with three assists, Berger earned Star No. 2 honors with a goal and assist, and DellaMorte was named Star No. 3 also with a goal and assist.