CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – On Sunday afternoon, the Sun Devil men's hockey team proved they could skate with anyone despite being a second-year program, as they went toe-to-toe with No. 3 Boston College -- the highest ranked team played thus far.
While the Eagles (10-2-1) walked away with the 3-1 victory, the Devils (2-9-0) were an unlucky bounce and two posts away from back-to-back thrillers on the east coast.
"I think we took a big step forward," said head coach Greg Powers. "We don't want to celebrate moral victories and that's not what we're looking at it as. But there's no way our team can't look themselves in the mirror and know that when we play the right way, we can play with anybody."
After Boston College struck first on a power-play tally just 1:44 into the first period, the Devils kept pressing, creating several chances in the zone. The Eagles denied several scoring opportunities, blocking six shots in the first period alone.
With 3:13 left in the 1st, ASU would catch a break as sophomore defenseman Nicholas Gushue found fellow sophomore Jordan Masters streaking through the neutral zone behind the BC defense. Masters would take the puck on his stick, make his move and bury one passed freshman goaltender Ryan Edquist to tie it at one.
The period would end in a 1-1 tie.
Five minutes into the second period, one of the most unfortunate plays in hockey occurred. While on the power play, the Eagles dumped the puck into the offensive zone. As it corralled into the corner, just as freshman goaltender Joey Daccord swung behind the net to play the puck, the puck bounced out of the corner and in front for BC's David Cotton to punch it in just before Daccord could get back.
Boston College took a 2-1 lead.
In the third period, the Devils were looking for another rally, pressuring the Eagles and forcing several scoring opportunities. Including a breakaway opportunity for redshirt junior Wade Murphy, who's shot rung off the post.
With just under three minutes to play, BC's Chris Calnan worked his way down the slot and behind a defender to take a pass from Connor Moore for the tap in behind Daccord's outstretched pad.
The Devils outshot the Eagles in the third period 13-9, and created several scoring chances. But the puck wouldn't bounce their way.
"We've had a very difficult schedule, and thought we played toe-to-toe with Michigan – who just split with BU – then beat UNH last night, and then gave BC everything they could handle tonight," said Powers. "We got some big saves by Daccord and thought the guys played hard. I was impressed at how hard they came out in the third period and controlled the play for a majority of the period. We outshot them, out chanced them, missed a breakaway, and hit a post there to tie it up. Just didn't get some bounces, but I'm really proud of them and we can definitely build off it."
Despite the three goals allowed, Daccord played one of his best games of the season, making 38 saves on the night.
"This is his best game by far," said Powers. "He was remarkable. The second goal was unfortunate – a bad bounce off the boards. He was as good as you can be."
The Devils will now make the trip to State College, Penn. for a two-game series with No. 12 Penn State starting on Friday, Nov. 18.
While the Eagles (10-2-1) walked away with the 3-1 victory, the Devils (2-9-0) were an unlucky bounce and two posts away from back-to-back thrillers on the east coast.
"I think we took a big step forward," said head coach Greg Powers. "We don't want to celebrate moral victories and that's not what we're looking at it as. But there's no way our team can't look themselves in the mirror and know that when we play the right way, we can play with anybody."
After Boston College struck first on a power-play tally just 1:44 into the first period, the Devils kept pressing, creating several chances in the zone. The Eagles denied several scoring opportunities, blocking six shots in the first period alone.
With 3:13 left in the 1st, ASU would catch a break as sophomore defenseman Nicholas Gushue found fellow sophomore Jordan Masters streaking through the neutral zone behind the BC defense. Masters would take the puck on his stick, make his move and bury one passed freshman goaltender Ryan Edquist to tie it at one.
The period would end in a 1-1 tie.
Five minutes into the second period, one of the most unfortunate plays in hockey occurred. While on the power play, the Eagles dumped the puck into the offensive zone. As it corralled into the corner, just as freshman goaltender Joey Daccord swung behind the net to play the puck, the puck bounced out of the corner and in front for BC's David Cotton to punch it in just before Daccord could get back.
Boston College took a 2-1 lead.
In the third period, the Devils were looking for another rally, pressuring the Eagles and forcing several scoring opportunities. Including a breakaway opportunity for redshirt junior Wade Murphy, who's shot rung off the post.
With just under three minutes to play, BC's Chris Calnan worked his way down the slot and behind a defender to take a pass from Connor Moore for the tap in behind Daccord's outstretched pad.
The Devils outshot the Eagles in the third period 13-9, and created several scoring chances. But the puck wouldn't bounce their way.
"We've had a very difficult schedule, and thought we played toe-to-toe with Michigan – who just split with BU – then beat UNH last night, and then gave BC everything they could handle tonight," said Powers. "We got some big saves by Daccord and thought the guys played hard. I was impressed at how hard they came out in the third period and controlled the play for a majority of the period. We outshot them, out chanced them, missed a breakaway, and hit a post there to tie it up. Just didn't get some bounces, but I'm really proud of them and we can definitely build off it."
Despite the three goals allowed, Daccord played one of his best games of the season, making 38 saves on the night.
"This is his best game by far," said Powers. "He was remarkable. The second goal was unfortunate – a bad bounce off the boards. He was as good as you can be."
The Devils will now make the trip to State College, Penn. for a two-game series with No. 12 Penn State starting on Friday, Nov. 18.