ASU hockey wraps up weekend shutout

(Photo: Allyson Cummings/WCSN)

Coming off a 14-0 victory over West Chester Friday night, the Sun Devils expected a tougher game Saturday. Although the Golden Rams put up a fight, NCAA recruit Connor Schmidt tallied the go-ahead goal to lift the Sun Devils 9-0 at Oceanisde Ice Arena.

The first period began right where Fridays game left off, with huge hits and physicality taking place from the puck drop. West Chester went right back to a strategy of trying to every ASU jersey that moved. At 14:47 of the first period the Rams physical style backfired, as forward Michael Dorfschneider was locked up for roughing, igniting a Sun Devil powerplay. It wouldn’t take long for ASU to cash in on the man advantage, with forward Eric Rivard showing impressive hand eye coordination, corralling a bouncing puck in front of the net and blasting it top right hand corner.

“Just doing what I do, standing in front and whacking away and luckily it went in,” said Rivard.

Armed with a 1-0 lead, ASU seemed to only up the ante and soon was awarded their second powerplay of the game thanks to a tenacious forecheck. Committing his second penalty of the period, Dorfschneider was hauled off for holding. ASU would cash in yet again, this time on a beauty of a goal by Drew Neymeyer, connecting off a cross ice pass from  Schmidt. With West Chester’s Michael Rice sliding post to post, Neymeyers shot was perfectly placed just above the goalies blocker and crossbar. As the first period came to a close, ASU dominance was shown on the shot totals with a 13-2 edge, but the boys from Tempe only possessed a 2-0 lead.

As second period play was under way, there was a change in net for West Chester, with Mike Amoroso replacing Rice. With the backing goalie playing admirable for the Golden Rams under a barrage of ASU shots, combined with an ASU penalty halfway through the period, West Chester seemed to have life. Any momentum was short lived however, as the ASU shorthanded unit held strong led by a great defensive effort from  Schmidt.

At 4:12 in the period, Rivard would net his second goal of the game, skating through the slot and snapping a wrister over a screened Armoroso’s shoulder. With West Chester looking physically and mentally defeated skating back to the bench after Rivards goal, the next shift for both teams could have been easily predicted.

Facing a four goal deficit, the Golden Rams turned the game chippy late in the period, leading to a scuffle between Adrian Case and  Schmidt.

“I like to play with a chip on my shoulder, I know I’m not the biggest guy but adding physicality to your game, if your offense isn’t going you have something to contribute,” Schmidt said of his role in scrums.

Entering the 3^rd with a Sun Devil 4-0 advantage and the game largely in hand, more of the same hostility could be expected. Blessing and Cummings would both be taken off simultaneously for getting into a scrum with a group of West Chester players after a post whistle hit. Coach Powers seemed to have no objection to the penalties however.

“I will never ever come down on my guys for sticking up for a teammate,” said Powers.

However, even at a two man advantage the Golden Rams couldn’t make a mark on the scoreboard as ASU’s Robert Levin, who was largely untested throughout the night, made several spectacular saves. Levin was commended by Powers for his effort during the kill.

“Rob has his confidence back up and that wasn’t an easy shutout, he had a couple of really tough chances against. He saw six shots in the first period and then deals with a full two minute 5 on 3. That’s a really good sign,” said Powers.

McGovern would add to the lead shortly after the Sun Devils regained full strength, at 8:53 of the final period, with a low wrister from the right point that snuck in five hole. Minutes later Rivard would put the cherry on top of a masterful performance with a nifty backhand forehand move in front of the net, resulting in his first hat trick on the young season. Rivard would assist on the last two goals of the period by Burkemper and Schmidt as well, leaving his final point tally at a jaw dropping five.

“It feels good, I’m looking forward to going up to North Dakota next weekend and playing a little bit better competition,” said Rivard.

Coach Powers likes what he has seen so far from his team as well.

“I like that we took care of business tonight, we beat a team from the east coast and let everyone know what we are about. The team is feeling good about themselves.”

After tonight’s victory, ASU will try to remain undefeated next weekend at Minot State.

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