TEMPE – Mastrosimone magic continued on Friday night in the opening game of the Desert Hockey Classic as the senior forward scored Arizona State University's duo of goals against No. 16 Michigan Tech. Despite Robert Mastrosimone's magic touch, the Sun Devils (10-12–0) fell, 4-2, to the Huskies to drop into the consolation game of the tournament against Air Force (6-11-2) scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 7 at 7:00 p.m at Mullett Arena.
It was Mastrosimone's fourth multi-goal game of his career and second of this season, his first of the year came earlier this season against Bemidji State on Oct. 8, 2022. It also marks the fourth time in the last five games the transfer has obtained a point.
Scottsdale native Josh Doan secured his 11th assist of the season which is good for second on the team.
The tournament resumes tomorrow, Saturday, January 7, with the championship game at 3:30 p.m. between No. 6 Boston University (away) and No. 16 Michigan Tech (home). ASU and Air Force will compete for the third place finish in the consolation game starting at 7:00 p.m. MST at Mullett Arena.
HISTORY OF ASU VS. AIR FORCE (3-3-0)
W, 5-2 - at Air Force on Oct. 19, 2019
W, 3-0 - at Air Force on Oct. 18, 2019
L, 2-3 - at #19 Air Force on Oct. 14, 2017
L, 3-4 - at #19 Air Force on Oct. 13, 2017
W, 5-2 - vs. #16 Air Force on Oct. 16, 2016
L, 3-4 - vs. #16 Air Force on Oct. 14, 2016
DESERT HOCKEY CLASSIC SCHEDULE
How It Happened:
First Period
ASU notched the game's first power play 34 seconds into the contest, but MTU took the advantage with a shorthanded goal to give them an early lead 91 seconds into the game.
After ten minutes of back-and-forth play, both teams were handed two-minute penalties which provided fans at Mullett Arena with 4-on-4 hockey. Despite the opportunities on both sides, the Sun Devils and the Huskies were unable to put anything in the back of the net.
ASU was assessed a slashing penalty, giving the Huskies their first power play of the game with about six minutes remaining in the opening frame, but the reluctant Sun Devil penalty kill kept the score at 1-0.
MTU completed the first period with a one goal lead while winning the shot battle 13-8 through the first 20 minutes.
Second Period
The second period began similarly to the first. MTU was awarded a power play after an ASU tripping penalty, but Mastrosimone equalized the game with the second shorthanded goal of his career, and his first SHG of the season. The shorthanded goal moves the Sun Devils into fifth in the nation with four shorthanded goals on the year. ASU would later kill the penalty to keep the game tied.
With 11:39 left, the Huskies re-took the lead 2-1 after both sides saw many scoring opportunities.
To finalize the second period, Mastrosimone was called for a hooking penalty which gave MTU 11 seconds on the power play to begin the final period of regulation. The Sun Devils outshot the Huskies 8-7 but couldn't find the equalizer.
Third Period
ASU killed its third power play of the night and followed four shots in a 28-second span in the opening minute of the third period.
The Huskies notched their third goal of the game with about ten minutes left to play to take a two-goal lead.
The Sun Devils faced many chances that featured a shot off the post, Including another ASU power play with 3:33 left in the game, their third of the game. After a timeout, ASU decided to pull Semptimphelter to make it a 6-on-4 opportunity which proved to be successful after Mastrosimone jetted his second goal of the night to give the Sun Devil faithful a pulse to make it 3-2. It's the senior's 10th multi-point game of the year.
With less than a minute left in the final period the Huskies belted an empty net goal to take a 4-2 lead.
UP NEXT:
Arizona State will look to bounce back tomorrow night in day two of the Desert Hockey Classic against Air Force at 7 p.m. MST at Mullett Arena. Coverage can be found on ASU Live Stream and heard on the radio on Fox Sports 910 KGME.
QUOTES:
Arizona State Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach Greg Powers: On Michigan Tech as a team:
"They're a good team. They're a top 20 team and they're ranked for a reason. They've won a lot of games and have been tough to beat. They're tough to gain speed through on neutral ice, especially in the third period. I thought they were a nidge more opportunistic tonight than us. I thought it was a pretty even game. I thought we controlled the last two periods for the most part. Their goalie made some huge saves. It was a game that just went their way, it's that simple. It wasn't like the ice was really tilted either way. They were more opportunistic and we scored two goals.You're not going to win a lot of games scoring two goals.
It was Mastrosimone's fourth multi-goal game of his career and second of this season, his first of the year came earlier this season against Bemidji State on Oct. 8, 2022. It also marks the fourth time in the last five games the transfer has obtained a point.
Scottsdale native Josh Doan secured his 11th assist of the season which is good for second on the team.
The tournament resumes tomorrow, Saturday, January 7, with the championship game at 3:30 p.m. between No. 6 Boston University (away) and No. 16 Michigan Tech (home). ASU and Air Force will compete for the third place finish in the consolation game starting at 7:00 p.m. MST at Mullett Arena.
HISTORY OF ASU VS. AIR FORCE (3-3-0)
W, 5-2 - at Air Force on Oct. 19, 2019
W, 3-0 - at Air Force on Oct. 18, 2019
L, 2-3 - at #19 Air Force on Oct. 14, 2017
L, 3-4 - at #19 Air Force on Oct. 13, 2017
W, 5-2 - vs. #16 Air Force on Oct. 16, 2016
L, 3-4 - vs. #16 Air Force on Oct. 14, 2016
DESERT HOCKEY CLASSIC SCHEDULE
| Friday, January 6 | Saturday, January 7 | |
| Game 1 | Air Force vs. #6 Boston University BU won, 5-1 |
#16 Michigan Tech (H) vs. #6 Boston University (A) WATCH | Live Stats | Tickets (good for both games) |
| Game 2 | ASU vs. #16 Michigan Tech MTU won, 4-2 |
ASU vs. Air Force WATCH | Live Stats | Tickets (good for both games) |
How It Happened:
First Period
ASU notched the game's first power play 34 seconds into the contest, but MTU took the advantage with a shorthanded goal to give them an early lead 91 seconds into the game.
After ten minutes of back-and-forth play, both teams were handed two-minute penalties which provided fans at Mullett Arena with 4-on-4 hockey. Despite the opportunities on both sides, the Sun Devils and the Huskies were unable to put anything in the back of the net.
ASU was assessed a slashing penalty, giving the Huskies their first power play of the game with about six minutes remaining in the opening frame, but the reluctant Sun Devil penalty kill kept the score at 1-0.
MTU completed the first period with a one goal lead while winning the shot battle 13-8 through the first 20 minutes.
Second Period
The second period began similarly to the first. MTU was awarded a power play after an ASU tripping penalty, but Mastrosimone equalized the game with the second shorthanded goal of his career, and his first SHG of the season. The shorthanded goal moves the Sun Devils into fifth in the nation with four shorthanded goals on the year. ASU would later kill the penalty to keep the game tied.
its a shorthanded goal party in the desert ??@rmastro9424 /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/rgi6V9WtE9
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) January 7, 2023
With 11:39 left, the Huskies re-took the lead 2-1 after both sides saw many scoring opportunities.
To finalize the second period, Mastrosimone was called for a hooking penalty which gave MTU 11 seconds on the power play to begin the final period of regulation. The Sun Devils outshot the Huskies 8-7 but couldn't find the equalizer.
Third Period
ASU killed its third power play of the night and followed four shots in a 28-second span in the opening minute of the third period.
The Huskies notched their third goal of the game with about ten minutes left to play to take a two-goal lead.
The Sun Devils faced many chances that featured a shot off the post, Including another ASU power play with 3:33 left in the game, their third of the game. After a timeout, ASU decided to pull Semptimphelter to make it a 6-on-4 opportunity which proved to be successful after Mastrosimone jetted his second goal of the night to give the Sun Devil faithful a pulse to make it 3-2. It's the senior's 10th multi-point game of the year.
Mastrosimone strikes twice ??@rmastro9424 /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/pC6Ivq19ce
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) January 7, 2023
With less than a minute left in the final period the Huskies belted an empty net goal to take a 4-2 lead.
UP NEXT:
Arizona State will look to bounce back tomorrow night in day two of the Desert Hockey Classic against Air Force at 7 p.m. MST at Mullett Arena. Coverage can be found on ASU Live Stream and heard on the radio on Fox Sports 910 KGME.
QUOTES:
Arizona State Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach Greg Powers: On Michigan Tech as a team:
"They're a good team. They're a top 20 team and they're ranked for a reason. They've won a lot of games and have been tough to beat. They're tough to gain speed through on neutral ice, especially in the third period. I thought they were a nidge more opportunistic tonight than us. I thought it was a pretty even game. I thought we controlled the last two periods for the most part. Their goalie made some huge saves. It was a game that just went their way, it's that simple. It wasn't like the ice was really tilted either way. They were more opportunistic and we scored two goals.You're not going to win a lot of games scoring two goals.
On tomorrow's matchup:
The Air Force is good. We have to play. We have to play whoever we play. We still have a chance to get out of the weekend with a split and that's the focus now. It is what it is. We wanted to play for a trophy, win our tournament tomorrow and play a really good BU team but that's the way it goes.
Senior Forward Robert Mastrosimone:
On first line's effort:
"I thought we played well five on five in the first line. We generated a lot of chances. Our power play wasn't good off of the hop; that's happened a little bit now and we have got to fix that. We scored one on the end at that power play to kind of make up for it but it was just too little, too late. I thought in the third period the whole team had a great effort.
On bringing energy into tomorrow:
"As far as the season goes, we are trying to get as many wins as we can. We need them, we need to win every game. We are taking it as any other game that we would go in and we are going to play to the best of our abilities and get a win."