The Providence College men’s hockey team secured a hard-fought victory against No. 13 Arizona State in a weekend split, with a final score of 2-1 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona. The win comes as a much-needed relief for the No. 9 Providence team, which managed to break free from a three-game losing streak and improve their standing to 9-4-2, 4-2-2 HEA.
During the game, both teams remained scoreless in the first period, with the Friars taking a 10-8 shot advantage. A controversial start to the second period saw Arizona State’s initial goal being dismissed due to an offside challenge from Providence. However, the Sun Devils managed to secure a power-play goal shortly after, taking the lead with a shot from Dylan Jackson that ricocheted off a Friar defenseman and into the net.
But Providence fought back, with Jamie Engelbert scoring his third goal of the season after a relentless display of hard work on the ice. This was quickly followed by Riley Duran, who secured the winning goal with his fifth of the season, assisted by Graham Gamache and Taige Harding.
The Friars continued to dominate in the third period, outshooting their opponents 14-7 and maintaining a solid defence to safeguard their lead. Goaltender Philip Svedebäck made some crucial saves, including an impressive stop against ASU’s Jackson Niedermayer on a breakaway opportunity. Even a challenging 6-on-4 situation towards the end of the game, which saw Providence’s Chase Yoder penalised for tripping, couldn’t shake their resolve. Craig Needham’s clean faceoff win with just two seconds left on the clock sealed the victory for the Friars.
Individual highs during the game included goals from Engelbert and Duran, with assists from Gamache and Harding. The Providence team was unable to convert any of their power-play opportunities, finishing at 0/2, while Arizona State managed to secure a power-play goal out of their 2 opportunities. The game ended with a total of 34 shots for Providence and 20 shots for Arizona State.
Looking ahead, the Friars will be gearing up for a crucial Hockey East matchup at Boston College on December 9th. This upcoming game will be an important one as they aim to further solidify their position in the league.
The recent victory over Arizona State marks a significant turning point for the Providence College men’s hockey team, showcasing their resilience and determination to overcome challenges on the ice. As they proceed with their season, the Friars will undoubtedly continue to demonstrate their skill and sportsmanship in the world of collegiate hockey.