HAMILTON, N.Y. – After a shutout loss on Friday night, the Sun Devils battled to a tie for the second-straight Saturday. ASU (1-5-2) scored first in the matinee contest, but the Raiders (3-2-3) would answer back in the middle of the third period on a lucky bounce.
Sophomore forward Tyler Busch netted the Devils' only goal, while fellow sophomore goalie Joey Daccord posted 47 saves.
"The effort was way better," said head coach Greg Powers. "We got great play out of our goalie and that was great to see. He gave us a chance to win tonight and that's all you can ask. If you told me that we would have one goal on the weekend and we wouldn't get swept, I would probably take it."
Following a scoreless opening period, and several opportunities for both teams stymied by the opposing netminders, Busch netted his first goal since game one at Air Force. Nine minutes into the second period, Busch came out of the box at the right time and took a lead pass from sophomore Steenn Pasichnuk at the Colgate blue line. He fired one underneath the blocker of Raider goalie Colton Point for ASU's first lead since the first period of the first game at Air Force.
Despite several more opportunities down the stretch, Colgate continued to block shots and deny any loose pucks in front of Point.
"We need to find a way to generate more offense and get more pucks to the net going into next weekend," said Powers. "The guys were better tonight and competed harder in every way. It's bittersweet because we had a lead late going into the third there, and they got a weird ping-pong bounce and caught a break."
Seven minutes into the third period, Colgate got the bounce they needed. A centering pass went off the stick of Tyler Penner in front, fluttered in the air, went off the glove of an ASU defenseman in front, and went over the shoulder of Daccord. The series occurred so fast, Daccord had no chance to react.
The 1-1 tie brings an end to the back-to-back-to-back road trip for the Devils, as they will now return home for six of the next eight games. ASU finished the trip without a technical victory, but earned a shootout win and a tie to end the stretch.
"All three of the road trips were tough places to play, and we were just a hair away from being .500," said Powers. "A shootout win in Omaha, a tie here, two one-goal losses at Air Force that could have easily gone our way. We're right there."
The Sun Devils return home next weekend for the first-ever series against the only other program in the Sun Belt, Alabama-Huntsville. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night at Oceanside Ice Arena.
Sophomore forward Tyler Busch netted the Devils' only goal, while fellow sophomore goalie Joey Daccord posted 47 saves.
"The effort was way better," said head coach Greg Powers. "We got great play out of our goalie and that was great to see. He gave us a chance to win tonight and that's all you can ask. If you told me that we would have one goal on the weekend and we wouldn't get swept, I would probably take it."
Following a scoreless opening period, and several opportunities for both teams stymied by the opposing netminders, Busch netted his first goal since game one at Air Force. Nine minutes into the second period, Busch came out of the box at the right time and took a lead pass from sophomore Steenn Pasichnuk at the Colgate blue line. He fired one underneath the blocker of Raider goalie Colton Point for ASU's first lead since the first period of the first game at Air Force.
Despite several more opportunities down the stretch, Colgate continued to block shots and deny any loose pucks in front of Point.
"We need to find a way to generate more offense and get more pucks to the net going into next weekend," said Powers. "The guys were better tonight and competed harder in every way. It's bittersweet because we had a lead late going into the third there, and they got a weird ping-pong bounce and caught a break."
Seven minutes into the third period, Colgate got the bounce they needed. A centering pass went off the stick of Tyler Penner in front, fluttered in the air, went off the glove of an ASU defenseman in front, and went over the shoulder of Daccord. The series occurred so fast, Daccord had no chance to react.
The 1-1 tie brings an end to the back-to-back-to-back road trip for the Devils, as they will now return home for six of the next eight games. ASU finished the trip without a technical victory, but earned a shootout win and a tie to end the stretch.
"All three of the road trips were tough places to play, and we were just a hair away from being .500," said Powers. "A shootout win in Omaha, a tie here, two one-goal losses at Air Force that could have easily gone our way. We're right there."
The Sun Devils return home next weekend for the first-ever series against the only other program in the Sun Belt, Alabama-Huntsville. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night at Oceanside Ice Arena.