(Photo: Niall Cooper/WCSN)
It was hugs and smiles all around as Seth Lind scored the game-winner 2:20 into the overtime period as the Sun Devils knocked off no. 1 Minot State 3-2.
“It’s a big goal for the program, taking down No. 1 Minot,” ASU Forward Seth Lind said. “All around, emotions were high through the whole game.”
ASU goaltender Jordan Gluck was impressive all night, shutting down Minot State for about two-and-a-half periods.
“I felt good the whole game,” Gluck said. “They’re ranked No. 1 right now, these are huge games so huge for us to step up there and score a big overtime goal.”
The first period saw the score stay deadlocked until Sean Murphy scored on a breakaway with 25 seconds left in the period to give ASU a 1-0 lead.
The score would remain 1-0 heading into the second intermission.
“We had some leaders step up in the locker room,” Brown said. “They really stepped up and fired up the guys so I think our intensity was a lot better and our focus was a lot better in the third period.”
The Beavers finally jumped on the board when Brett McNevin shot a puck through traffic in front to even the score at 1-1.
“We just keep our heads high and work through adversity,” Lind said. “We keep grinding, we keep our heads up throughout the whole game.”
However, ASU would cash in on the power play as Austin Snedden deflected an original slap shot from Stefan Valvur at 11:13 of the frame.
With less than four minutes to go, Minot State evened the game at 2-2 when Austin Yano waisted one through traffic and past Gluck.
“We got to keep our heads up,” Lind said. “We got to get the guys motivated. They got scored on, obviously, we can’t let them get their heads down.”
With the win, No. 8 ASU moves to 10-1 on the season.
“I think we had some clutch plays out there,” ASU Head Coach Josh Brown said.
No. 8 ASU and No. 1 Minot State meet again at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe on Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
