(Photo via Haley Spracale/WCSN)
College hockey is back – but probably not the way the Sun Devils had imagined.
Arizona State men’s hockey (0-1) lost its season opener 3-2 in overtime on the road to No. 5 Minnesota Duluth (1-0).
Twice did the Sun Devils have the lead over the Bulldogs Saturday night, and twice, the Bulldogs came back, eventually taking their only lead late to win the game in overtime.
The Sun Devils struck first on a power play in the first period. Sophomore forward Jack Jensen got dirty in the offensive zone, picking up a rebound to light the lamp just before time expired on the UMD minor for hooking.
UMD and junior forward Blake Biondi came close to tying the game multiple times, rattling two close shots off the post, but ASU held on through one period of play. Still, UMD had gained momentum in the closing ten minutes of the period.
Eight minutes and eight seconds into the second period, Minnesota Duluth found the back of the net to even the score at 1-1. Sophomore forward Dominic James buried the biscuit, leaving the game still up for grabs after two periods of play from Duluth.
The Sun Devils came out swinging in the third period, netting their second go-ahead goal of the night, this time from junior forward Lukas Sillinger only a minute and three seconds in.
Much to the chagrin of ASU, it took two minutes and 41 seconds for UMD to tie the game again, this time at 2-2 and on a power play.
A tripping penalty to junior defensemen Tim Lovell gave Duluth their second power play of the night and scored twenty-three seconds in. Three Sun Devils crashed the net on an early scoring chance, leaving freshman forward Isaac Howard wide open on the far side circle to crash the net and pick up a juice rebound to tie the game at two.
After the equalizer, both teams seemed to play with controlled chaos. ASU, back on their heels slightly after the goal, found a little momentum when Sillinger found the back of the net, only for the goal to be waved off due to goalie interference.
UMD was given a late chance on a power play when a minor was assessed to sophomore defenseman Ty Murchison, but no damage could be done to force a sudden death three-on-three overtime.
Sophomore forward Josh Doan, senior forward Robert Mastrosimone, and Sillinger were tasked to start the overtime period, getting the Sun Devils off on the right foot. ASU put together a few good chances, but it was not enough to hold down the No. 5 team in the country.
Senior defensive transfer from Miami, Ohio, Derek Daschke closed the book on ASU. Daschke scored a minute and fifty seconds into the overtime period to secure the win for the Bulldogs, 3-2.
Arizona State will have one more opportunity against Minnesota Duluth on Sunday at 2 p.m. MST.
