The Lindenwood men's ACHA division II ice hockey team captured their first win of the 2024 Miami University (Ohio) Showcase Friday night with a 7-4 routing of the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles at Goggin Ice Arena in Oxford, Ohio.

The Lions continued the trend of applying intense first period pressure against the Eagles Friday night. Their high-powered offense got the scoring started 4:02 into the first period when Chase McClellan netted his sixth goal of the season. Jacob Behnen and Nick Jones set up McClellan's goal and earned their 18th assists in the processes. The first frame saw the Lions offense put 18 shots on goal compared to the Eagles nine, yet Lindenwood was only able to put one puck in the back of the net.

The second period saw another early goal, this time by Jacob Behnen. Behnen's third of the year was scored at 3:12 and started by Jack Louko and Nick Jones. Now up 2-0, Louko added some insurance at 10:55. Jones tallied another assist, his 20th. The Eagles got on the board at 17:37 thanks to a late period push but were unable to sneak anymore pucks past Lions goaltender Cole Wheaton. The Lions outshot the Eagles again (13-10) and took a 3-1 lead into the final period of play.

A powerplay that carried over from the second period allowed the Lions special teams to get in on the scoring palooza. Lions forward Austin Meers lit the lamp for the 14th time this season thanks to a play started by Louko and Jones. This assist was Jones' fourth of the game. Gage Vierzba added a powerplay goal of his own at 1:51 and extended the Lions lead to a commanding 5-1. Chase McClellan and Zac Maupin picked up assists on Vierzba's 12th goal of the season. The Eagles attempted a brief comeback by tallying two goals which tightened the score to 5-3, but the threat was extinguished thanks to a powerplay goal by Stanley Lucas. Lucas tallied his 17th goal of the season thanks to a set play started by Brett Robinson and Ryan Granville and extended the Lions lead to 6-3. Another Eagles powerplay goal at 18:35 brought Florida Gulf Coast within two goals once again, but Lindenwood put the game on ice at 19:59 thanks to none other than Nick Jones. Jones' goal was his 23rd of the season and was assisted by Meers and Behnen. Although Florida Gulf Coast matched Lindenwood in shots on goal in the third, the Lions emerged victorious with the score 7-4 when the final horn sounded.

The Lions powerful offense and a good penalty kill were keys to their success Friday night. Cole Wheaton played well, stopping 30 of 34 Eagles shots and earning the win. The Lions record improves to an astonishing 26-2 thanks to the victory on Friday, and their win streak now stands at 12 games. Lindenwood will battle a familiar foe, the Liberty University Flames, in their second leg of the Miami University (Ohio) Showcase. Puckdrop is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. CST at Goggin Ice Arena.