Captain Ryan Granville scored a natural hat trick in the second period to help lead the men's ACHA DII squad to an 8-2 win over the University of Missouri Thursday night at the Maryville Ice Center in Chesterfield, Missouri. The game was part of the Maryville Showcase which includes four teams in round-robin action through Saturday.

The Lions took an early 1-0 lead after a Mizzou tripping penalty in the opening minute. Gage Vierzba capitalized on the ensuing power play with help from Jack Louko and Chase McClellan at the 2:35 mark. Later in the period, Vierzba scored his second of the contest after a beautiful stretch back from McClellan led to a breakaway at 14:55. Jacob Behnen was credited with the second assist on the play that gave Lindenwood a 2-0 advantage. The Tigers cut into the deficit with a power play goal with just 59-seconds remaining in the first after the Lions were called for goalie interference.

After the first intermission, Granville took over the game in the second with three straight goals. The first came at 5:58 on a play set up by Austin Meers and Stanley Lucas. Just over two minutes later, Ethan Christofferson and Zac Maupin set up Granville with a perfect down-low play for another even-strength effort at 8:11. Mizzou was called for cross checking later in the period and that led to a power play goal at 14:37, the third score in a row from Granville as he beat the Missouri netminder short-side and high to give Lindenwood a 5-1 lead. Both Meers and Lucas earned their fourth assists on the season.

With two players accounting for all five Lions goals to that point, Maupin decided to join the fun. After a feed from Vierza, Maupin put the puck on net and buried his own rebound at the 15:15 mark for a 6-1 advantage, which carried into the final period.

Lindenwood increased its margin early in the third. After a Granville dump-in, Eli Roofe capitalized off of a generous bounce in the slot to make it 7-1 at the 3:08 mark. Freshman Trent Van Gels earned an assist on the play for his first collegiate point. The final Lions goal came on a dazzling short-side effort from Maupin off a pass from Zachary Schwartz at 8:23. The Tigers scored their second midway through the frame, but that was all that Lindenwood goalie Cade Kujawski would yield.

In addition to the hat trick from Granville, both Vierzba and Maupin scored twice for the Lions, who outshot Mizzou 43-12. Kujawski stopped 10 of the 12 shots he faced to earn the victory in goal. Lindenwood scored twice on four power plays while holding Missouri to one goal on five man-advantage chances.

With the win, the Lions improved to 4-1 on the season. Play continues in the Maryville Showcase on Friday as Lindenwood faces the host Saints at 5:15 p.m. The Lions battle the University of Arkansas on Saturday at 3 p.m. with both games taking place at the Maryville Ice Center.