If there were any nerves for sophomore goaltender Jordan Behnen in his first collegiate start, they didn't show. Behind a suffocating defensive performance and relentless offensive pressure, men's ACHA DII ice hockey dominated Arkansas 10-0 in the Maryville Showcase Thursday night at the Maryville Ice Center in Chesterfield, Missouri.
 
From the opening puck drop, the Lions dictated the tempo, but it took a bit before the horn sounded for the first goal. Despite outshooting the Razorbacks 14–2 and generating multiple high-quality chances, including two power play opportunities, Lindenwood went scoreless in the first 20 minutes.
 
Once the second period began, the dam broke, and a flood followed. Just two minutes into the frame, Brock Hart unleashed a one-timer from the top of the zone that whistled through traffic and beat Arkansas goaltender Grady Reis five-hole on the power play. Nick Jones and Jack Louko earned the helpers on what would prove to be the opening spark of a five-goal period.
 
Less than two minutes later, the Lions struck again, this time on the penalty kill. Senior Eli Roofe jumped on a rebound and buried a shorthanded tally to make it 2–0. Ethan Christofferson and Zachary Schwartz picked up assists on the play.
 
The Lions continued to roll as freshman Easton Portner sniped one over the glove of Reis midway through the period, off a clean feed from Gage Vierzba. Then, transfer forward Gabe Vijuk got a piece of a Finnigan Greeley shot for his third goal of the year, giving Lindenwood a commanding 4–0 lead. Moments later, Greeley notched his first collegiate goal, finishing a slick feed from Gavin Delfosse and the Lions carried a 5-0 advantage into the second intermission.
 
The third period felt like a victory lap for the Lions offense. Nick Jones extended the lead to 6–0 on a backdoor finish, with Austin Meers and Christofferson collecting assists. For Meers, it was a milestone moment as the helper was career point 100 in a Lindenwood sweater.
 
Vierzba then went to work, scoring his first of the night off a silky setup from Portner and Louko. Louko later joined the goal parade himself to make it 8–0, assisted by Jones and Meers. Vierzba wasn't done, either. The junior forward buried two more late goals to complete the hat trick, sealing an emphatic 10–0 statement win.
 
The Lions outshot Arkansas 46–21, controlling every facet of the game from the faceoff circle to the forecheck. But perhaps the best storyline of the night belonged to Behnen, who was calm, confident, and composed between the pipes, stopping all 21 shots for his first collegiate win and shutout.
 
The victory not only showcased the offensive depth and defensive structure of the Lions but also their ability to maintain focus and intensity from start to finish.
 
Assistant Coach Rick Trautwein highlighted the team's performance.
 
"The victory not only showcased our offensive depth and defensive structure, but our ability to maintain focus and intensity from start to finish," he said. "Ten goals, a shutout, and another milestone night; the Lions are roaring, and we will look to continue that momentum tonight."
 
With the victory, Lindenwood is now 6-0 on the season. The Lions return to action in the Maryville Showcase against the host Saints Friday night. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. at the Maryville Ice Center.