What a game it was on Friday night as the No. 13/16 Arizona State ice hockey team took on Miami University. The Sun Devils came out strong, leading 4-1 with just 13 minutes left in the third period. But, unfortunately, they couldn’t hold on and ended up losing in overtime, 5-4. It was a heartbreaker for ASU, but they have a chance to redeem themselves in the rematch tomorrow night.
Four different Sun Devils found the back of the net in this high-scoring affair. Ty Jackson, Lukas Sillinger, Kyle Smolen, and Alex Young all contributed with goals. Sillinger and Smolen extended their point-scoring streaks to four and three games, respectively. Benji Eckerle also kept his four-game point streak alive with an assist on Sillinger’s goal.
There were some notable performances in the game as well. Ty and Dylan Jackson both had multi-point games, while Charlie Schoen recorded his second multi-point game of the season with two assists. Young’s power play goal extended ASU’s streak of scoring on the man advantage to three straight games.
Despite the loss, ASU has shown that they can compete in overtime games. They now have a record of 1-1 in games that go beyond regulation. In their home opener, they defeated No. 15 Merrimack in a thrilling 1-0 overtime victory.
TJ Semptimphelter was solid in net for the Sun Devils, making 28 saves on the night. The ASU defense also did their part, blocking 20 shots throughout the game. In terms of shots on goal, ASU outshot Miami 34-33 in the 81 minutes of play.
The scoring started early for ASU, with Ty Jackson finding the back of the net just 70 seconds into the game. It was the fastest goal of the season for the Sun Devils, who had previously struggled to score in the first period.
Both teams played a clean second period, with no penalties being called. Sillinger and Smolen each added a goal to give ASU a 3-1 lead heading into the final frame.
The third period was a battle of special teams, with both teams capitalizing on power play opportunities. Young scored ASU’s fourth goal of the game on the man advantage, but Miami responded with a power play goal of their own to bring the score within one. With less than a minute left in regulation, the Redhawks pulled their goalie and scored with the extra skater to tie the game at 4-4. And just 21 seconds into overtime, Miami found the back of the net again to secure the victory.
It was a tough loss for ASU, but they have a chance to bounce back in the rematch on Saturday night. The game will take place at Goggin Ice Center, with puck drop at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. MST. Fans can tune in to the Sun Devil Hockey Radio Network or purchase a stream of the game on NCHC.tv. Let’s hope the Sun Devils can come out on top this time and get the series split!