The San Diego State Hockey Club knew they would be facing a loaded Arizona State team on Friday night, but nothing could have prepared them for the bigger, faster Sun Devils in a 12-1 loss. The Aztecs (1-1; 1-0 DII) never found a consistent offensive attack in the one-sided contest, limited by ASU's (1-0) ferocious backcheck and puck-controlling offense.
Arizona State struck quickly in the first period, receiving a rebound goal from forward Kale Dolinsky just 1:03 in. The Sun Devils would continue their blitz on junior Aztec goaltender Filip Curkovic throughout the first period, as SDSU played a conservative defense that allowed clean puck movement from faster ASU players.
Highly-touted freshman ASU recruit Sean Murphy began his collegiate career on a high note, scoring the next two goals to give the Sun Devils a comfortable 3-0 lead 11 minutes in. Murphy beat Curkovic for his first goal on a one-timer pass through the slot from Faiz Kahn, then fooled him with a deke across the crease for his second.
The Aztecs responded on the following shift, getting their first shot on net a little over eight minutes into the game. SDSU then tested Sun Devils goaltender Joe D'Elia with low shots looking for rebound opportunities. First-year junior Danny Koressal nearly put SDSU on the board when he intercepted an outlet pass in the slot and had a point-blank scoring opportunity, but D'Elia was able to recover to conserve the 3-0 lead.
SDSU finally broke through on the score sheet in the period's final minute when sophomore Travis Sevilla recovered an errant ASU pass near the SDSU blue line and found himself on a breakaway, sniping a wrist shot top shelf over D'Elia's left shoulder. The Sun Devils immediately stole away any SDSU momentum from Sevilla's goal, however, as Danny McAuliffe fit a shot under the right pad of Curkovic to give ASU a 4-1 lead heading into the locker room.
The Aztecs came out with extra aggression to start the second period, but it would be ASU with all the goal scoring. Patrick Yudez and Liam Norris were each able to sneak goals past Curkovic midway through the second before four more ASU goals, including two by Kahn, put the Aztecs down 9-1 after 40 minutes of play.
The Sun Devils would add three more goals in the third period to wrap up action in Tempe.
The Aztecs look for a better showing on Saturday night in front of sophomore goaltender Connor O'Brien. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. PT, A live online broadcast of the game by Arizona State's student-run Cronkite Sports Network will be streamed on SDSUHockey.com.
Highly-touted freshman ASU recruit Sean Murphy began his collegiate career on a high note, scoring the next two goals to give the Sun Devils a comfortable 3-0 lead 11 minutes in. Murphy beat Curkovic for his first goal on a one-timer pass through the slot from Faiz Kahn, then fooled him with a deke across the crease for his second.
The Aztecs responded on the following shift, getting their first shot on net a little over eight minutes into the game. SDSU then tested Sun Devils goaltender Joe D'Elia with low shots looking for rebound opportunities. First-year junior Danny Koressal nearly put SDSU on the board when he intercepted an outlet pass in the slot and had a point-blank scoring opportunity, but D'Elia was able to recover to conserve the 3-0 lead.
SDSU finally broke through on the score sheet in the period's final minute when sophomore Travis Sevilla recovered an errant ASU pass near the SDSU blue line and found himself on a breakaway, sniping a wrist shot top shelf over D'Elia's left shoulder. The Sun Devils immediately stole away any SDSU momentum from Sevilla's goal, however, as Danny McAuliffe fit a shot under the right pad of Curkovic to give ASU a 4-1 lead heading into the locker room.
The Aztecs came out with extra aggression to start the second period, but it would be ASU with all the goal scoring. Patrick Yudez and Liam Norris were each able to sneak goals past Curkovic midway through the second before four more ASU goals, including two by Kahn, put the Aztecs down 9-1 after 40 minutes of play.
The Sun Devils would add three more goals in the third period to wrap up action in Tempe.
The Aztecs look for a better showing on Saturday night in front of sophomore goaltender Connor O'Brien. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. PT, A live online broadcast of the game by Arizona State's student-run Cronkite Sports Network will be streamed on SDSUHockey.com.
Box Score
GOALS
SDSU: 1-0-0=1
ASU: 4-5-3=12
WIN: D'Elia (1-0); 17/18 shots
LOSS: Curkovic (0-1); 38/50 shots
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
ASU: Dolinski (1, Levos, McAuliffe); Murphy (1, Khan); Murphy (2, Levos); McAuliffe (1, Dolinski, Norris)
SDSU: Sevilla (3, unassisted)
2nd Period
ASU: Yudez (1, unassisted); Norris (1, McAuliffe, Hoban); Khan (PP, 1, Prechel, Norris); Burkemper (1, Holstrom); Young (PP, 1, McGinty, Murphy)
3rd Period
ASU: Prechel (1, Holstrom); Burkemper (2, Prechel, Holstrom); McGinty (1, Prechel, Blessing)
PENALTY SUMMARY
1st Period
No penalties
2nd Period
SDSU: DiMaggio (Holding); Vara (Slashing); Christoff (Slashing)
ASU: Holstrom (Unsportsmanlike)
3rd Period
SDSU: Riley (Delay of Game)
ASU: McGinty (Tripping)
SDSU: 1-0-0=1
ASU: 4-5-3=12
WIN: D'Elia (1-0); 17/18 shots
LOSS: Curkovic (0-1); 38/50 shots
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
ASU: Dolinski (1, Levos, McAuliffe); Murphy (1, Khan); Murphy (2, Levos); McAuliffe (1, Dolinski, Norris)
SDSU: Sevilla (3, unassisted)
2nd Period
ASU: Yudez (1, unassisted); Norris (1, McAuliffe, Hoban); Khan (PP, 1, Prechel, Norris); Burkemper (1, Holstrom); Young (PP, 1, McGinty, Murphy)
3rd Period
ASU: Prechel (1, Holstrom); Burkemper (2, Prechel, Holstrom); McGinty (1, Prechel, Blessing)
PENALTY SUMMARY
1st Period
No penalties
2nd Period
SDSU: DiMaggio (Holding); Vara (Slashing); Christoff (Slashing)
ASU: Holstrom (Unsportsmanlike)
3rd Period
SDSU: Riley (Delay of Game)
ASU: McGinty (Tripping)