TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Hockey picked up its second win in three games on Friday night, as Arizona State tallied five goals in route to a 5-4 victory over Colgate at Oceanside Ice Arena.
The Devils (4-12-0) were led by redshirt sophomore Louie Rowe, who netted his first and second goals of his collegiate career.
"Tonight's win felt good," said head coach Greg Powers. "You have to learn how to win games like that. When you get two different leads, you want to be able to extend and not give one back and both times they popped one pretty quick after we got off two. The guys hung on and it was a great win."
Rowe finally got the monkey off his back after recording five assists so far this season. Seven minutes into the first period, he also helped his team check off another first. While on the penalty kill, Rowe pressured Colgate (3-9-4) in the neutral zone to create a turnover, which led to a breakaway tally for the Devils' first shorthanded goal of the season.
After entering the first intermission with a 1-0 lead, a Sun Devil goaltender would encounter another strange goal against. Sophomore Ryland Pashovitz made the save in front, but had the puck ricochet off a teammate's stick in front, popping the puck up in the air. Pashovitz tried to shoulder the puck out, but it would unknowingly flutter in front before being jammed in by Colgate's Bobby McMann.
The Devils answered right back just over a minute later, as graduate senior Robbie Baillargeon tallied his team-leading eighth goal of the season on a tap in off the shot of freshman Brinson Pasichnuk. It was ASU's first power play goal on the night.
Before the end of the second, freshman defenseman Jakob Stridsberg buried his fourth goal of the season on a goal we've seen often from him. The Swedish blue-liner winded up for a blast from the top of zone, which was unseen by Raider senior goaltender Charlie Finn.
While the Devils again came out in the third controlling play, Colgate continued to grind out every shift. The pressure allowed the Raiders to tie the game up for the second and final time, as Tim Harrison drove into the zone before finding the back of the net on a backhander from the left side.
The star of the night and assistant captain would lead by example to put his team back on top, as Rowe took a pass from fellow assistant captain Anthony Croston below the left circle, forced his 6-foot-6 frame to the front, and found a way to put his second passed Finn for the 4-3 lead.
"We definitely won in special teams tonight," said Powers. "We had two power play goals and a shorthanded goal, so when you do that, you're going to find ways to win."
Despite the two-goal lead with less than 10 minutes left in the game, Colgate continued to battle, again cutting the lead to one with six minutes remaining. They continued to scratch and claw, firing off several shots on Pashovitz with an empty net in the final minute of play.
Pashovitz would hold on, earning his team-leading second victory of the season and second in as many starts.
ASU returns to Oceanside on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. for game two against Colgate, as they hunt for their first home sweep of the season.
The Devils (4-12-0) were led by redshirt sophomore Louie Rowe, who netted his first and second goals of his collegiate career.
"Tonight's win felt good," said head coach Greg Powers. "You have to learn how to win games like that. When you get two different leads, you want to be able to extend and not give one back and both times they popped one pretty quick after we got off two. The guys hung on and it was a great win."
Rowe finally got the monkey off his back after recording five assists so far this season. Seven minutes into the first period, he also helped his team check off another first. While on the penalty kill, Rowe pressured Colgate (3-9-4) in the neutral zone to create a turnover, which led to a breakaway tally for the Devils' first shorthanded goal of the season.
"It was funny because I told him this week that he would get two Friday," said Powers. "Then we put him on the power play just to build up his confidence a little bit and he made me look pretty smart."Big man skating here! All 6-foot-6 barreling down for the first NCAA goal of his collegiate career! Devils enter the 2nd up 1-0! #COLGvsASU pic.twitter.com/Bex5R09oQ9
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 3, 2016
After entering the first intermission with a 1-0 lead, a Sun Devil goaltender would encounter another strange goal against. Sophomore Ryland Pashovitz made the save in front, but had the puck ricochet off a teammate's stick in front, popping the puck up in the air. Pashovitz tried to shoulder the puck out, but it would unknowingly flutter in front before being jammed in by Colgate's Bobby McMann.
The Devils answered right back just over a minute later, as graduate senior Robbie Baillargeon tallied his team-leading eighth goal of the season on a tap in off the shot of freshman Brinson Pasichnuk. It was ASU's first power play goal on the night.
Before the end of the second, freshman defenseman Jakob Stridsberg buried his fourth goal of the season on a goal we've seen often from him. The Swedish blue-liner winded up for a blast from the top of zone, which was unseen by Raider senior goaltender Charlie Finn.
However, just 32 seconds later, Colgate's Derek Freeman cut the lead back to one before the second intermission.The Swedish Slapper! @JakobStridsberg's blast is currently the difference in the game, as @TheSunDevils lead 3-2 over Colgate! #COLGvsASU pic.twitter.com/1qcsNbhSdR
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 3, 2016
While the Devils again came out in the third controlling play, Colgate continued to grind out every shift. The pressure allowed the Raiders to tie the game up for the second and final time, as Tim Harrison drove into the zone before finding the back of the net on a backhander from the left side.
The star of the night and assistant captain would lead by example to put his team back on top, as Rowe took a pass from fellow assistant captain Anthony Croston below the left circle, forced his 6-foot-6 frame to the front, and found a way to put his second passed Finn for the 4-3 lead.
Less than a minute later, as the Devils entered a four-minute power play, Brinson tallied his fifth goal of the season – and second game-winner -- on a blast from above the right circle for the second power play goal of the night for ASU. It is just the third time this season that the Sun Devils have tallied multiple power play goals in a game, and first since Oct. 21 versus Northeastern.The big man has himself a night, as @LouieRowe17 scores his second of the night & of his career on this play in front! #COLGvsASU pic.twitter.com/odtwknjLE8
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 3, 2016
"We definitely won in special teams tonight," said Powers. "We had two power play goals and a shorthanded goal, so when you do that, you're going to find ways to win."
Despite the two-goal lead with less than 10 minutes left in the game, Colgate continued to battle, again cutting the lead to one with six minutes remaining. They continued to scratch and claw, firing off several shots on Pashovitz with an empty net in the final minute of play.
Pashovitz would hold on, earning his team-leading second victory of the season and second in as many starts.
ASU returns to Oceanside on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. for game two against Colgate, as they hunt for their first home sweep of the season.