(Photo: Riley Trujillo/WCSN)
With the score tied 2-2 in the final stretch Friday night, No. 15 Arizona State needed a hero to kick off the second half of its 2018-2019 season on the right foot.
The Sun Devils faced a brick wall all night in Boston College’s junior goaltender Joseph Woll. A couple dings off the pipes and missed opportunities on the power play saw the Sun Devils’ chances running dry.
However, with 1:38 left on the clock, it was freshman forward PJ Marrocco who answered the call and emerged from the depths to send the maroon and gold fans home happy.
A scramble in the goal mouth popped out right to Marrocco’s stick who netted the game-winner with a huge smile on his face.
“I’m speechless. It was a hard-working shift,” Marrocco said. “I blacked out there.”
Thanks to Marrocco’s heroics, part of an incredible third period comeback, the Sun Devils defeated the Eagles 5-2 to secure their first victory of the calendar year.
Right out of the gate, the energy level did not go unnoticed. The Eagles (6-9-2) and Sun Devils (15-7-1) combined for 28 shots on goal and heavy hits across the ice in what was a very fast and physical first period. That was the tempo coach Greg Powers expected his guys to bring in the new year in their fourth-to-last home games of the season.
“We had to take care of business at home to make the most of it with four out of twelve left here,” Powers said. “The guys did that tonight.”
The second period showed even more aggressiveness from the Sun Devils’ offense. Sophomores Dominic Garcia and Johnny Walker both ringed shots off the post after nifty moves around the Eagles defense.
But it was BC that struck first, scoring the game’s opening goal with a quick counter-attack. On a 3-on-2 rush, JD Dudek broke the ice with his second tally of the season. Just 20 seconds after, freshman defenseman Josh Maniscalco took the game’s first trip to the box.
With a fresh set of penalty killers on the ice in a crucial situation, the Sun Devils needed an answer, and they looked to their veteran leadership.
“We needed the kill to bring us back the momentum,” Powers said. “The PK has been great for us all year. Hollman and Croston get the job done.”
With under a minute left on the penalty kill, senior forward Dylan Hollman picked up the puck in the neutral zone and came down the left side with a burst of speed, flying by an Eagles defender that had lost an edge before whistling the puck top shelf past Woll for the short-handed equalizer.
Hollman’s ninth goal — and second shortie — of the season brought life back into the Sun Devils bench. It was the first short-handed goal since Nov. 23, 2018 against Nebraska-Omaha.
Down by a goal entering the third period, the Sun Devils had their work cut out to take down their first Hockey East opponent of the season.
Near the midway point of the final frame, a Croston wrap-around attempt across the BC goal line needed a closer look on replay review. Moments later, ASU celebrated as the referee pointed to the faceoff circle for the good goal signal.
The Sun Devils used that momentum to muster many chances toward the BC goal. However, the paint and posts would not be kind as they would come within inches of lighting the lamp.
Then, with 98 seconds remaining in the game, Marrocco found the loose change in the blue paint and gave ASU its first lead of the night. Croston and Jarrod Gourley would add on two more empty-netters to seal the deal, but Marrocco’s sixth of the season could not have come at a better time.
Joey Daccord’s performance in goal was not overlooked either. The junior netminder made 35 saves in what appeared early on to be a goaltending showdown with BC’s Joseph Woll. The Sun Devils are now 12-0-1 when allowing two goals or fewer.
ASU and BC wrap up the series tomorrow night as the Sun Devils carry their undefeated 2019 record to Gila River Arena for the finale.
“Our guys have to embrace playing in a world class building at home on national television,” Powers said. “We’ll get some sleep, get some rest, and get back to the ice Saturday night.”
