TEMPE, Ariz. - The San Diego State Ice Hockey Club (3-4; 3-2 West) played a much-improved game against the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday night, but late-game mistakes proved to be the difference in a 6-5 loss.
A laser of a wrist shot from John "Rambo" Riley had given the Aztecs a 5-4 lead with under 10 minutes remaining, but an Alex Cambas tripping penalty less than a minute later gave ASU's struggling power play unit a chance they would finally capitalize on. SDSU had killed all seven Sun Devil power play opportunities in the two-game series before ASU's Jamie Cotnoir cleaned up a rebound to the right of sophomore goalie Connor O'Brein,
O'Brien made 49 saves on the night, but was consistently beat on rebound opportunities. The Mission Viejo native eventually allowed the game-winning goal on a deflection by ASU's Brady Morgan at 15:19, Morgan's second of the night. The goal marked the first time ASU led in the game.
"The team did a great job bouncing back from last night," head coach Chris Migliore said after the game. "It's tough to let this one slip away but we'll be able to rebound from it and get ready for next weekend."
SDSU carried a 2-1 lead into the first intermission thanks to two outstanding hustle plays by Danny Koressel. The junior forward helped break a scoreless tie at 10:16 when he chased down a waived-off icing call, stole the puck from an ASU defender in the right corner, carried it behind the net and made a cross-slot pass to Cameron Davis, who sank home a wrist shot for a 1-0 lead. Koressel then got a goal of his own at 18:44, when he stole the puck right off the stick of indecisive ASU goaltender Corey Frank, giving Koressel an open net to tap in a 2-1 lead.
Riley gave SDSU a five-minute power play at 7:39 in the second period when he was dragged to the ice, leading to a Travis Sevilla goal and a 3-1 lead 45 seconds later. ASU's Brady Morgan quickly responded for the Sun Devils, however, scoring shorthanded on the backhand 24 seconds later to cut the Aztecs' lead in half. Following a game-tying ASU goal, senior co-captain Eric Stelnick sank a slap shot from the right faceoff circle that fooled a sprawling Frank at 18:25, giving the Aztecs a 4-3 lead after two periods of play.
The Aztecs created quality scoring chances in the third, but were only able to get one past ASU goalie Kyle Dietriech, who came on in relief of Frank after the second period. Dietriech, who won Friday night's contest, combated a Justin Tutag breakaway at 7:00 and a scramble in front of the net in the game's winding seconds.
The Aztecs will now head back to San Diego in preparation for a two-game showdown against rival UNLV. Friday night's game at the Kroc begins at 9 p.m., and Saturday's matinee begins at 3:15 p.m. Tickets are free for SDSU students with a RedID and only $5 for everyone else.
O'Brien made 49 saves on the night, but was consistently beat on rebound opportunities. The Mission Viejo native eventually allowed the game-winning goal on a deflection by ASU's Brady Morgan at 15:19, Morgan's second of the night. The goal marked the first time ASU led in the game.
"The team did a great job bouncing back from last night," head coach Chris Migliore said after the game. "It's tough to let this one slip away but we'll be able to rebound from it and get ready for next weekend."
SDSU carried a 2-1 lead into the first intermission thanks to two outstanding hustle plays by Danny Koressel. The junior forward helped break a scoreless tie at 10:16 when he chased down a waived-off icing call, stole the puck from an ASU defender in the right corner, carried it behind the net and made a cross-slot pass to Cameron Davis, who sank home a wrist shot for a 1-0 lead. Koressel then got a goal of his own at 18:44, when he stole the puck right off the stick of indecisive ASU goaltender Corey Frank, giving Koressel an open net to tap in a 2-1 lead.
Riley gave SDSU a five-minute power play at 7:39 in the second period when he was dragged to the ice, leading to a Travis Sevilla goal and a 3-1 lead 45 seconds later. ASU's Brady Morgan quickly responded for the Sun Devils, however, scoring shorthanded on the backhand 24 seconds later to cut the Aztecs' lead in half. Following a game-tying ASU goal, senior co-captain Eric Stelnick sank a slap shot from the right faceoff circle that fooled a sprawling Frank at 18:25, giving the Aztecs a 4-3 lead after two periods of play.
The Aztecs created quality scoring chances in the third, but were only able to get one past ASU goalie Kyle Dietriech, who came on in relief of Frank after the second period. Dietriech, who won Friday night's contest, combated a Justin Tutag breakaway at 7:00 and a scramble in front of the net in the game's winding seconds.
The Aztecs will now head back to San Diego in preparation for a two-game showdown against rival UNLV. Friday night's game at the Kroc begins at 9 p.m., and Saturday's matinee begins at 3:15 p.m. Tickets are free for SDSU students with a RedID and only $5 for everyone else.
GAME SUMMARY
San Diego State 5, Arizona State 6 (Final)
October 12, 2013
Oceanside Ice Arena - Tempe, Ariz.
PERIOD SCORING
SDSU - 2-2-1=5
ASU - 1-2-3=6
SHOTS ON GOAL
SDSU - 47
ASU - 55
SDSU GOAL SCORERS
Davis, Koressel, Sevilla (PP), Stelnick, Riley
October 12, 2013
Oceanside Ice Arena - Tempe, Ariz.
PERIOD SCORING
SDSU - 2-2-1=5
ASU - 1-2-3=6
SHOTS ON GOAL
SDSU - 47
ASU - 55
SDSU GOAL SCORERS
Davis, Koressel, Sevilla (PP), Stelnick, Riley