The San Diego State Hockey Club grinded out a 5-2 victory at home over Loyola Marymount on Friday night, improving to 3-0 this season against divisional opponents. Three-point nights from Thomas Lapp and Alex Cambas led the way offensively for the Aztecs, while Connor O'Brien made 35 saves to earn his second win of the year.
Lapp assisted on three goals, including Cam Davis' game winner, while Cambas scored his team-leading fourth and fifth goals and also added an assist. The two teamed up together on sophomore defenseman Alec Christoff's late first period power play goal that broke up a gritty play flow.
SDSU and LMU were in a scoreless tie for most of the opening period, with neither team finding leverage 5-on-5. After the Aztecs killed off a Danny Koressel tripping call at 16:11, an LMU hooking mistake gave the streaking SDSU power play a golden opportunity it would immediately capitalize on. Lapp took a pass from Cambas and then turned the puck to Christoff, who found twine at 18:22 by beating LMU goalie Taylor Spesak with a shot through traffic.
Christoff later injured Spesak on a high shot that hit square in Spesak's mask, resulting in a delay for medical attention at 13:25. Minutes later, Cambas gave the Aztecs a 2-0 lead on a feed from senior Eric Stelnick at 16:50.
LMU would tighten things up early in the third with a quick strike to cut the lead in half, but the puck-moving Aztecs defense came through yet again for what would end up being the game-winning tally. John "Rambo" Riley won a battle for possession on the right boards and passed back to the point to Thomas Lapp, who avoided pressure inside the blue line and got a low shot off through defenders. Spesak, unable to control the rebound, kicked the puck out right to a waiting Cam Davis, who punched it in for a 3-1 lead.
Riley would again make a play from the right boards at 14:13, stepping into a slap shot from the faceoff dot that overpowered Spesak's glove for a 4-1 lead. Cambas then finished off all SDSU scoring with an empty netter in the final minute.
The Aztecs will head back to Arizona State this weekend for a two-game match against the Sun Devils, this time facing the Division II program. SDSU will be looking to improve on their 3-5 all-time head-to-head record against ASU while staying undefeated against West opponents.
SDSU and LMU were in a scoreless tie for most of the opening period, with neither team finding leverage 5-on-5. After the Aztecs killed off a Danny Koressel tripping call at 16:11, an LMU hooking mistake gave the streaking SDSU power play a golden opportunity it would immediately capitalize on. Lapp took a pass from Cambas and then turned the puck to Christoff, who found twine at 18:22 by beating LMU goalie Taylor Spesak with a shot through traffic.
Christoff later injured Spesak on a high shot that hit square in Spesak's mask, resulting in a delay for medical attention at 13:25. Minutes later, Cambas gave the Aztecs a 2-0 lead on a feed from senior Eric Stelnick at 16:50.
LMU would tighten things up early in the third with a quick strike to cut the lead in half, but the puck-moving Aztecs defense came through yet again for what would end up being the game-winning tally. John "Rambo" Riley won a battle for possession on the right boards and passed back to the point to Thomas Lapp, who avoided pressure inside the blue line and got a low shot off through defenders. Spesak, unable to control the rebound, kicked the puck out right to a waiting Cam Davis, who punched it in for a 3-1 lead.
Riley would again make a play from the right boards at 14:13, stepping into a slap shot from the faceoff dot that overpowered Spesak's glove for a 4-1 lead. Cambas then finished off all SDSU scoring with an empty netter in the final minute.
The Aztecs will head back to Arizona State this weekend for a two-game match against the Sun Devils, this time facing the Division II program. SDSU will be looking to improve on their 3-5 all-time head-to-head record against ASU while staying undefeated against West opponents.
Game Summary
Friday, October 4, 2013
Kroc Center - San Diego, Calif.
SDSU 5, LMU 2 (Final)
LMU- 0-0-2=2
SDSU - 1-1-3=5
WIN: O'Brien (2-2) (35/37 saves)
LOSS: Spesak (33/37 saves)
SCORING
1ST PERIOD
SDSU - 18:22 - Christoff (PP) (Lapp, Cambas)
2ND PERIOD
SDSU - 16:50 - Cambas (Stelnick)
3RD PERIOD
LMU - 3:46 -- #27
SDSU - 5:41 - Davis (GWG) (Lapp, Riley)
SDSU - 14:13 - Riley (Lapp, DiMaggio)
LMU - 18:44 - #29
SDSU - 19:39 - Cambas (EN)
Kroc Center - San Diego, Calif.
SDSU 5, LMU 2 (Final)
LMU- 0-0-2=2
SDSU - 1-1-3=5
WIN: O'Brien (2-2) (35/37 saves)
LOSS: Spesak (33/37 saves)
SCORING
1ST PERIOD
SDSU - 18:22 - Christoff (PP) (Lapp, Cambas)
2ND PERIOD
SDSU - 16:50 - Cambas (Stelnick)
3RD PERIOD
LMU - 3:46 -- #27
SDSU - 5:41 - Davis (GWG) (Lapp, Riley)
SDSU - 14:13 - Riley (Lapp, DiMaggio)
LMU - 18:44 - #29
SDSU - 19:39 - Cambas (EN)