Roller hockey fell 2-1 to Grand Canyon University in an epic three overtime battle in the finals of the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) Championship April 20 at Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn, Maine.

In a rematch of a pool play game earlier in the week, the Lions jumped in front of the Lopes late in the first period when Jackson Wozniak and Nathan Durrans set up Christian Acosta on the power play at 10:18. That would prove to be the only Lindenwood goal as GCU goaltender Maxim Currie emerged as the story of the game.

After sending six shots on net in the opening frame, the Lions put 11 shots on goal in the second but were denied every time. Meanwhile, Lindenwood was called for hooking at 7:35 and that proved to be a key moment as the Lopes capitalized with four seconds remaining on the power play to tie the contest at 1-1.

The Lions continued to pepper the GCU netminder in the third with another 13 shots, but could not get the puck past him, but solid Lindenwood defense and goaltending kept the Lopes from scoring as well, so it was still tied at the end of regulation.

In the playoffs, full overtimes are played so the two squads essentially embarked on a fourth period unless someone scored. The Lions offense continued to work, putting nine shots on goal, but Currie defended them all. Another 12 minutes ticked by with no scoring, so a second overtime was played.

Lindenwood really put pressure on GCU in the frame, outshooting the Lopes 14-2 in the period. The Lions had a great opportunity to end the game when Grand Canyon was called for cross-checking at 5:18, but once again, the horn remained silent. Ultimately, a third overtime period was required. Lindenwood quickly put two shots on net in the opening moments, but the Lopes countered, and the one shot they took proved to be the game-winner at 2:47. After almost 63-minutes of hockey, Grand Canyon outlasted the Lions 2-1.

Lindenwood outshot the Lopes 55-20 and Marky Hager stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced in a losing effort while Currie turned away 54 of the 55 shots he faced for GCU. The Lions went 1/2 on the power play while the Lopes scored on their only power play chance.

After entering the NCRHA Championships with a perfect 16-0 mark in collegiate play and a streak of two titles in a row, roller hockey finishes the 2023-24 campaign with a 10-0 mark in the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League (MCRHL) and a 21-1 record overall.

Lindenwood dominated through pool play and into the quarterfinals and semifinals at the championship, only yielding one goal in five contests.

Pool play began on Wednesday with the Lions posting a 10-0 victory over Rowan, outshooting the Profs 36-5. Lindenwood scored four in the first, then added three more in each of the final two periods. Chase Christopher stopped all five shots he saw in goal. Bennett Blake earned Star No. 1 honors with two goals and an assist, Clayton Liefeld was named Star No. 2 with two goals and an assist, and Durrans received Star No. 3 recognition with a goal and two assists. Wozniak also scored twice and other goals came from Parker Winkelmann, Jack Wedoski, and Landon Kooker.

The Lions continued pool play on Thursday with two more shutouts, 13-0 over Farmingdale State College and 12-0 over Arizona State University.

Lindenwood outshot the Rams 36-1 with four goals in each of the first two periods, and another five in the third. Hager stopped the one shot he faced to earn the victory. Wedoski earned Star No. 1 honors with five goals, Connor Bradley received Star No. 2 recognition with two goals and an assist, and Wozniak was named Star No. 3 with a goal and two assists. Acosta scored twice and other goals came from Winkelmann, Brett Worster, and Dylan Sullivan.

The Lions outshot the Sun Devils 43-13 while posting five goals in the first, including one short-handed, three in the second, and four in the third. Christopher stopped all 13 shots he faced in goal.  Wozniak earned Star No. 1 honors with five goals and an assist, Liefeld received Star No. 2 recognition with two goals and three assists, and Bradley was named Star No. 3 with six assists.    

Lindenwood completed pool play with a 4-1 win over Grand Canyon on Friday. The Lions special teams proved to be the difference as they scored twice on the power play and once short-handed, outshooting the Lopes 26-13 in the contest as Hager stopped 12 of the 13 shots he faced to earn the win in goal.  

Perhaps foreshadowing what would happen in the final, neither team scored in the opening period, but Lindenwood lit the lamp twice in the second and twice in the third while only yielding a single tally in the second. Durrans earned Star No. 1 honors with two goals and an assist, Bradley was named Star No. 2 with a goal and assist, and Acosta was named Star No. 3 with two assists.

With a perfect 4-0 mark in pool play, the Lions advanced to a semifinal match-up against Henry Ford Community College Saturday morning and cruised to an 8-0 victory. Lindenwood outshot the Hawks 45-1 with Christopher making a save on the one shot he faced. The Lions started quickly with four in the first, then added one in the second and another three in the third. Kooker earned Star No. 1 honors with two goals and an assist, Wozniak was named Star No. 2 with four assists, and Acosta received Star No. 3 recognition with a goal and assist.