PITTSBURGH, Pa. – After coming out of the gates neck-and-neck with the No. 11 team in the country, and trailing by just a goal halfway through the game, the Sun Devil men's hockey team came unwound in the final 30 minutes of round one of the Three Rivers Classic at PPG Paints Arena.
The No. 11 Friars (11-7-1) tallied five goals in the final 30 minutes for the 6-0 victory.
"Tonight, we had players quit working," said head coach Greg Powers. "I thought we had a really good first period with a ton of pushback. Outplayed them in the first period, and then after that, there was no pushback and they just outworked us … when you allow a team like Providence that is more talented than us to outwork you for a good 40-plus minutes, that is going to be the result every time."
After outshooting Providence 6-1 in the final eight minutes of the first period, the wheels came off. The Friars blasted 19 shots on sophomore goaltender Joey Daccord, burying two of them, and ultimately outshooting ASU 19-1 in the middle frame. The 19 shots were the most allowed in a period by the Devils this season.
The Friars' leading goal scorer and point leader Erik Foley made his presence felt early and often, as he netted the first goal of the night and eventual game-winner. He proceeded to assist on two more goals.
Daccord finished the night with 37 saves on 43 shots, making for his ninth game in the last 10 outings with 30-plus saves.
Friar goaltender Hayden Hawkey only had to make 13 saves through 52 minutes before handing the net over to back-up Gabe Mollot-Hill.
On special teams, the Devils had killed four-straight penalties before allowing a power-play goal with less than two minutes remaining in the game. They finished 5-for-6 on the kill. The power-play had several chances on the night with five shots on goal in three power-play opportunities, but failed to put the biscuit in the basket.
The Sun Devils now play in the consolation game on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. (ET) against the loser of Robert Morris and Lake Superior State. The game can be watched on YouTube for free here.
The No. 11 Friars (11-7-1) tallied five goals in the final 30 minutes for the 6-0 victory.
"Tonight, we had players quit working," said head coach Greg Powers. "I thought we had a really good first period with a ton of pushback. Outplayed them in the first period, and then after that, there was no pushback and they just outworked us … when you allow a team like Providence that is more talented than us to outwork you for a good 40-plus minutes, that is going to be the result every time."
After outshooting Providence 6-1 in the final eight minutes of the first period, the wheels came off. The Friars blasted 19 shots on sophomore goaltender Joey Daccord, burying two of them, and ultimately outshooting ASU 19-1 in the middle frame. The 19 shots were the most allowed in a period by the Devils this season.
The Friars' leading goal scorer and point leader Erik Foley made his presence felt early and often, as he netted the first goal of the night and eventual game-winner. He proceeded to assist on two more goals.
Daccord finished the night with 37 saves on 43 shots, making for his ninth game in the last 10 outings with 30-plus saves.
Friar goaltender Hayden Hawkey only had to make 13 saves through 52 minutes before handing the net over to back-up Gabe Mollot-Hill.
On special teams, the Devils had killed four-straight penalties before allowing a power-play goal with less than two minutes remaining in the game. They finished 5-for-6 on the kill. The power-play had several chances on the night with five shots on goal in three power-play opportunities, but failed to put the biscuit in the basket.
The Sun Devils now play in the consolation game on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. (ET) against the loser of Robert Morris and Lake Superior State. The game can be watched on YouTube for free here.