ASU Hockey: Air Force sweeps Sun Devils in two single-goal games

(Photo: Gabrielle Mercer/WCSN)

In a series where each game was decided by just one goal, ASU fell to the Air Force Falcons in a pair of matchups decided late.

Due to a weak opening period in Friday night’s game, the Sun Devils quickly found themselves in a bind with the Falcons leading 2-1 at the end of the first. A debatable call led to Air Force opening up the scoring off of a rebound from ASU goaltender Joey Daccord.

“The boys were playing a little too cute and unfortunately we fell behind because of it,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said.

Perhaps a bit of game day jitters got the best of the Devils, considering this weekend was their first away game. While the Devils were struggling to find their footing after a three-goal deficit by the end of the second period, they were able to pull themselves together for a strong finish despite ultimately losing.

“They started playing the way we have to play and the way we want to play,” Powers said. “They played desperate and angry and we have yet to do that for a game for 60 minutes.”

Desperation was the missing key needed in the third. Thanks to goals by Jacob Wilson and Tyler Busch, the Sun Devils were able to close the goal gap by two, only to be trailing by one goal. Though this wasn’t enough to force an overtime period or win liked they hoped, Powers believed it proved that the fight they need is there.

”They need to play three periods like the last one and if they do, they’re going to love the result,” he said.

This fire lit beneath the Sun Devils was able to carry over for a strong opening period Saturday night. The Falcons got on the board first but Jake Clifford responded right away to even up the score. Jack Rowe gave the Sun Devils the lead in the last 30 seconds of the period.

“I thought we played well enough to play the game,” Powers said. “We gotta find a way to convert on the power play.”

Two of the seven goals scored against the Devils this weekend were scored on a penalty kill while ASU scored just once with a man-advantage.

A third goal, which would have tied the game for ASU, was later discredited due to officials claiming the Falcons had control.

“We had three goals in this game,” Powers said. “Why that guy blew the whistle claiming they had possession of that puck is beyond me. It’s really disappointing, it cost us the game and there’s really no excuse. These guys need to be better than that.”

ASU fell to Air Force in the second game 3-2. It was the first time the Sun Devils were swept this season.

The Sun Devils will cross paths with the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks next weekend for another two-game series on the road.