In a game where both teams combined for over 90 shots on goal, men's ACHA DII ice hockey came up on the short end of a 9-4 score against Oklahoma State Friday night at the WeStreet Ice Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Cowboys jumped in front with three early goals the Lions were never able to catch up.
Those early scores came in a span of just over six minutes at 1:45, 4:10, and 6:12.
Easton Portner halted that momentum temporarily when he stole the puck and scored unassisted at 6:40 to make it 3-1, but OSU did almost the same thing just 10-seconds after the ensuing faceoff and the Cowboys again held a three-goal lead at 4-1.
After a relatively clean opening period, Oklahoma State took the first penalty of the contest at the 12:13 mark. That led to a power play goal from
Nick Jones, set up by
Jack Louko and
Austin Meers at 13:14 and Lindenwood trailed 4-2. Moments later, the Cowboys were pressing again, but Jones made a big steal and scored again unassisted at 16:35 to pull the Lions within a single tally, but that would be as close as they would get for the rest of the game. OSU added a goal with 1:17 remaining and after outshooting the Lions 23-11 in the first, the Cowboys led 5-3.
That advantage expanded at 5:22 of the second and it remained 6-3 in favor of Oklahoma State for the next 12 minutes until
Brandon Catalano sounded the horn at 17:11 for Lindenwood with help from
Gage Vierzba and
Lance Murray. Matching minors set up a four-on-four at 18:44, but a Lions hooking penalty gave the Cowboys a four-on-three and they capitalized with five-seconds left in the period to make it 7-4 OSU at the second intermission.
Lindenwood had a couple chances on the power play in the first half of the third but could not find the back of the net. Then, just two seconds after the latter man-advantage chance had expired, the Cowboys expanded their lead to 8-4 with an even-strength tally at 10:35. They added their final goal at 17:45 to make it 9-4.
Oklahoma State outshot the Lions 51 to 42.
Cole Wheaton made 42 saves on the 51 shots he faced.
It was the first loss of the season for Lindenwood after five victories to begin the 2026-27 campaign. The Lions will attempt to earn a split of the two-game series when they face the Cowboys again at 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening at the WeStreet Ice Center.
