BOUNTIFUL — The Davis High Darts Hockey team was riding a two-game losing streak and were hoping to bounce back with a win to get a better seeding in the playoffs.

But after leading the game 4-2 entering the final period, the Darts gave up three goals in the third and were unable to tie the game before time expired, losing to the Cottonwood Colts 5-4.

“I really can’t explain what happened in that last period,” said Darts coach Brian Knap. “We tried to switch up lines to give our guys more rest, but I guess that didn’t work so well.

“I really can’t explain it.”

The Darts had built up a 4-2 lead entering the third period thanks to a pair of goals from Dylan Duehlmeier and Colin Ecsedy.

The Colts didn’t take long to cut their deficit to two goals, scoring with just 30 seconds gone in the third off the stick of Anthony Fellows.

The Darts had multiple opportunities to score in the final period, including a power play opportunity that was killed by Cottonwood, and a shot from Duehlmeier on a break-away that just missed the goal to the right side.

Cottonwood tied the game with 5:55 remaining when Dylan Cooley scored on an assist from Cole Mitchell and Fellows.

The toughest goal of the night was the go-ahead goal, which Davis goalie Berklee Baskin initially stopped, but the puck slipped underneath him for the goal.

“That was a tough one,” said Knap. “You get those sometimes. One of those things you can’t explain.”

The goal was scored by Matthew Baxter and was unassisted.

The Darts started the game with a 2-0 lead after the first period thanks to the first goals by Duehlmeier and Ecsedy. Duehlmeier picked up an assist on Ecsedy’s goal.

In the second period, Cottonwood cut the Davis lead to one goal after Fellows scored on an assist from Baxter, but the Darts maintained a 2-1 lead.

Davis extended the lead back to two goals on Ecsedy’s second goal, which was again assisted by Duehlmeier.

With 7:10 remaining in the second, Toren Wallengren scored for the Colts to make the game 3-2. Four minutes later Duehlmeier scored the unassisted goal that gave the Darts the 4-2 lead entering the final period.

Duehlmeier finished the night with a pair of goals and assists, while Ecsedy had the two goals for the Darts.



sgillet@davisclipper.com