OMAHA, Neb. – The No. 14/16 Arizona State hockey team settled for a road split, falling to Omaha 8-4 (EN) Sunday afternoon at Baxter Arena.
The Sun Devils jumped out to a 4-2 lead thanks to the efforts of PJ Marrocco, James Sanchez, and Johnny Walker, but were unable to withstand a strong push by the Mavericks.
"It was a tough one," Coach Powers remarked. "We didn't play a bad game, but we made a few mistakes and they capitalized on every single one of them."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
"We actually played and executed better tonight than we did last night," Coach Powers added. "We went up 4-2 – took a penalty after the whistle – had that thing killed off but it hit the linesman. Then they pop one on us. It just kind of steamrolled on us. The hockey Gods are fierce. We probably didn't deserve that one last night and we probably deserved a much better fate tonight. I think at the end of the day, going on the road against an NCHC team and get a split, you will take it. It stings because it is the fourth weekend in a row that we have been in position to sweep and we haven't done it. The guys have to take a step and I know they will. "
UP NEXT:
The Sun Devils will now prepare for the SoCal Clash, as they travel to Irvine, Calif. to take on Harvard University at Five Point Arena. The first of two games will take place on December 28 at 5:00 P.M. MST, with the second scheduled for December 29 at 2:00 P.M. MST. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the following link.
"It is going to be a great trip," Coach Powers said regarding next weekend. "It should be a really good experience for our guys to go out to Southern California to play."
The Sun Devils jumped out to a 4-2 lead thanks to the efforts of PJ Marrocco, James Sanchez, and Johnny Walker, but were unable to withstand a strong push by the Mavericks.
"It was a tough one," Coach Powers remarked. "We didn't play a bad game, but we made a few mistakes and they capitalized on every single one of them."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- It did not take long for Arizona State to get on the board, as Jordan Sandhu snuck a one-timer past Omaha's goalkeeper Austin Roden after a great set-up from James Sanchez to give the Sun Devils the lead 1:20 into the game.
????
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 22, 2019
Filthy pass from @KingJames_38 and an excellent finish by @jordysandhu!
WATCH LIVE ($): https://t.co/J2fesVSS66 pic.twitter.com/R1LHHPocKG
- The Mavericks evened things up five minutes later courtesy of a goal from Taylor Ward.
- Arizona State would respond, as Dominic Garcia led PJ Marrocco with a pass creating a 3-on-1 break. With attackers to either side, Marrocco stayed patient and picked his spot, rifling a shot past an unsuspecting Roden to put the Sun Devils in front at the end of one.
Sun Devils take the lead in Omaha thanks to this @Peej_97 finish!
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 22, 2019
WATCH LIVE ($): https://t.co/J2fesVSS66 pic.twitter.com/DdiQKmeQPv
- After both teams remained scoreless through the first 10:31 of the second period, a flurry of goals would soon follow with the pace picked up as the game went on.
- The teams combined for five goals over the next ten minutes in the second period, the first of which was a game-tying power play goal by Omaha's Tyler Weiss.
- Johnny Walker found the back of the net once again against Omaha, scoring his fifth power play goal (sixth overall) against the Mavericks over the past two seasons to give ASU a 3-2 lead. Not only did he draw the penalty, but he converted on the man advantage as well, tipping a shot fired in from the point by Brinson Pasichnuk with the net-front presence making an impact.
Mr. @jwalks96 not making many friends in Omaha this weekend! #TipDrill pic.twitter.com/pipbJHADwG
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 22, 2019
- Only 11 seconds later, PJ Marrocco scored his second of the night, as Dominic Garcia forced a turnover deep in the Mavericks zone and shoveled it over to an open Marrocco. The 11 seconds between the Sun Devils' third and fourth goals represents the fewest time between two goals in program history.
- Momentum of the game shifted at the end of the second period, as Omaha would even things up at four, scoring two goals late in the period. The Mavericks would carry over their momentum into the third period, scoring four goals (one empty netter) in the final period to pull away and earn a split.
- The second period goals by Johnny Walker and PJ Marrocco came just 11 seconds apart, the shortest span between Sun Devil goals in program history.
- After adding two more assists tonight, James Sanchez now has seven multi-point and five multi-assist performances this season.
- The two-goal night from PJ Marrocco was the first multi-goal performance of his career, giving him four goals over his last five games.
- Dominic Garcia registered the first two-assist performance of his career.
- Another multi-point performance by Johnny Walker gives him six this season and 21 in his career. His second period power play goal was the fifth power play goal he has scored against Omaha over the past two seasons.
- Brinson Pasichnuk dished out his 55th career assist.
"We actually played and executed better tonight than we did last night," Coach Powers added. "We went up 4-2 – took a penalty after the whistle – had that thing killed off but it hit the linesman. Then they pop one on us. It just kind of steamrolled on us. The hockey Gods are fierce. We probably didn't deserve that one last night and we probably deserved a much better fate tonight. I think at the end of the day, going on the road against an NCHC team and get a split, you will take it. It stings because it is the fourth weekend in a row that we have been in position to sweep and we haven't done it. The guys have to take a step and I know they will. "
UP NEXT:
The Sun Devils will now prepare for the SoCal Clash, as they travel to Irvine, Calif. to take on Harvard University at Five Point Arena. The first of two games will take place on December 28 at 5:00 P.M. MST, with the second scheduled for December 29 at 2:00 P.M. MST. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the following link.
"It is going to be a great trip," Coach Powers said regarding next weekend. "It should be a really good experience for our guys to go out to Southern California to play."