The Lindenwood men's ACHA Division II ice hockey team defeated the Utah Utes on Sunday night by the score of 8-1 at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Sunday's thumping of the Utes means that Monday's rescheduled game against the Hoosiers sets up a winner-take-all matchup for a spot in the ACHA division II tournament semifinals.

The Lions set the tone of Sunday's game early in the first period. Jack Louko picked up right where he left off the night before as he scored just 3:39 into the first frame. The Lions' regular season top goal scorer, Nick Jones, netted his first of the playoffs later in the period and extended the Lions lead to 2-0 at 15:11. Jones' goal would prove to be the game-winner against Utah. The Lions tested the Ute goaltender 23 times in the first frame and led 2-0 after one period of play.

Goals were tough to come by in the first period, but the second period was a much different story. There were five goals scored in the second period, the first four were scored by Lindenwood. Zac Maupin scored the first of the game at the 2:55 mark of the second period and extended the Lions lead to 3-0. Brett Robinson and Praveen Dhaliwal picked up assists on Maupin's tally. At the 6:30 mark, Louko scored his second of the game and third of the postseason while on the power play. Forward Ethan Christofferson scored 29 seconds later thanks to a play started by Gavin Delfosse and Jake Lange which made it 5-0 in favor of Lindenwood. The Lions went back to the power play at 11:37 and converted at 12:22 after Robinson and Ryan Granville found Stanley Lucas for his second goal of the tournament. The Utes picked up a power play goal of their own at 17:08 to bring game back within four, but the Lions still led 5-1 after two periods.

The Lions started their defensive crackdown in the second period as they allowed just five shots on goal in the frame, and they continued their great defensive play into the final period. The Lions defense surrendered just two shots on goal in the third period and their red-hot goaltender, Justin Grenon, stopped both shots. The Lions got that second period goal back 8:01 into the third when Gage Vierzba scored his first of the postseason. Seven goals against were seven too many for the Utah bench boss to stomach as he made a goalie change following Vierzba's tally. The Lions scored their eighth and final goal of the game at 16:05 as Louko and Lange found Jones for his second tally of the contest.

Grenon picked up another win on Sunday night, his second of the playoffs. Grenon stopped 17 of 18 Ute shots for a .944 save percentage.  Jack Louko picked up four points on Sunday night as he scored two goals and picked up two assists. The Lions special teams was also electric on Sunday as they scored on three of their four power play opportunities.

Sunday's victory sets up a must win match-up against the reigning division II ACHA champions, the Indiana Hoosiers. Friday's game was postponed due to inclement weather but will be resumed tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Centene Community Ice Center. The game will resume with the score tied 1-1. A victory on Monday punches the Lions ticket to the 2025 ACHA division II Final Four.