HAMMOND, Ind.--The Lawrence Tech ACHAMD3 men's hockey team opened its 2023-24 campaign over the weekend by splitting a two-game non-conference series at ACHA Division 2 Purdue-Northwest at the Kube Sports Complex. The host Pride took Friday's game 6-2 before the Blue Devils rebounded for a 3-2 victory the next day. Both teams are now 1-1 on the season.

On Friday, both of LTU's goals came shorthanded. With PNW working the extra-man advantage with an offensive zone face-off, Connor Juhasz stole a pass at the blue line and skated the other way for a breakaway tally 3 minutes and 15 seconds into the game. That tied it up 1-1 after one period. 

But the Pride took control in the second stanza with three goals for a 4-1 advantage.

Max Kurzeja scored LTU's second goal with 34 seconds remaining in the contest, taking a feed from Nick Oda along the left half-wall.

The Pride scored two empty-net goals in the third period to seal the win.

LTU came from behind on Saturday that was fueled by two goals in the second period. Trailing 1-0, the Blue Devils equalized as Gavin Holmes found Will Jentz when he shot the puck over the goalie's left glovehand. Luke Radu and Jeff Rand combined on a two-on-none shorthanded breakaway to put the visitors up 2-1 with 2:58 to go.

Lawrence Tech added an insurance goal to go up 3-1 in the third period before fending off the Pride who pulled the goaltender for an extra attacker for almost three minutes while trying to get the tying goal and force overtime.

Lawrence Tech will be idle until the Oct. 6-7 weekend when it prepares for Calvin University for the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference opening series. Friday's game (6:30 p.m.) will be played at Eagles Ice Arena before LTU hosts the Knights Saturday (5 p.m.) in the home opener at Farmington Hills Ice Arena.

(Editor's note: An official ACHA boxscore for Saturday' game is not yet available.)