The Lions headed to Westminster, Colorado, for the ACHA West regionals. This is the third trip to the regional tournament for the Lions since the team was formed in 2006. The Lions, who lost in the first round the two previous trips were looking to break through this time around.
The first round opponent for the Lions was Seventh Ranked East Texas Baptist, who came into the tournament as the 7th seed. This would mark the first time the two teams would ever face each other.
The Lions would spend the first ten minutes of the game on defense, as ETBU came out of the gates flying. But the Lions would score first, as Spencer Engstrom tipped in a point shot from Cam Andrade with a few minutes remaining in the first. The Lions led the game 1-0 after one.
In the second, the Lions took control, using a strong forecheck to turn pucks over. It finally led to a second goal for LMU, as Chris Manzer found the puck down low and fired it home on a penalty kill. The short-handed goal gave the Lions the 2-0 lead. The Lions would strike again, as Spencer Engstrom netted his second of the game, again on an ETBU turnover. The Tigers would score late in the second, on a net front scramble to bring the game to 3-1 after 2.
In the third, the Lions got into penalty trouble, giving momentum to ETBU. The Tigers would bring the game within one with ten minutes to play. LMU took a penalty with six minutes to play, but the penalty kill stood strong again, and Jason Footlick made a couple of big saves on the PK. Shortly after killing the penalty, the Lions moved the puck up ice and had three good chances, when Connor Kilkenny would finally find the back of the net to give the Lions an important insurance goal.
The Lions would spend the rest of the game sending the puck out of the zone, stymying any ETBU opportunities. As the buzzer sounded, the Lions came away with the 4-2 victory in the first round of regionals. The first regionals win in three tries for the Lions.
Jason Footlick once again played strong in net for the Lions, making big saves and keeping the door shut on the many power play opportunities.
The Lions will now face Third ranked University of Providence in the second round on Friday, 2/25, at 10am Mountain in an attempt to upset another team while making it to the final regionals round for a shot at a trip to Nationals.