(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
In what is set to be an emotional weekend for the seniors, the Arizona State women’s hockey team is set to play their last home series this season.
The Sun Devils will face off against No. 11 University of Colorado (11-6) for a two-game set at Oceanside Ice Arena.
The Buffaloes are on the heels of the Devils in the WWCHL standings in second place and are 4-0 against conference opponents. Colorado comes in this weekend having lost three of last four games and have given up 17 goals in the span.
One player to watch for Colorado is forward Sara McNamara who has scored 13 goals and nine assists on the season.
On the other hand, ASU’s record now sits at 14-2 and is coming off a sweep against rivals GCU two weeks ago. The Sun Devils only allowed two goals that series and haven’t allowed more than one goal in a game since the team’s second loss of the season against No. 3 Adrian on Nov. 9.
A big reason the Sun Devils haven’t allowed the opposition to score comes down to goalie Jordan Nash-Boulden. The senior netminder has allowed just 1.77 goals on average this season, which is the ninth best mark in the nation.
As the team looks to this series, she believes the Sun Devils need to make life difficult for the Buffaloes in order to be successful.
“I’ve seen them before, they’re a fast team, they move the puck around really well,” Boulden said. “Their systems play very well, they’re good at setting up, good at breaking out.
“I think the biggest success for us is if we can disrupters to that a little bit. If we can kind of get into their face, get some pressure on them and make it a little more difficult for them to execute that, then they’re going to make mistakes and hopefully we can capitalize on that.”
As for head coach Lindsey Ellis, this set of games will be crucial before heading to the playoffs.
“I think everyone kind of knows this determines seeds for playoffs,” she said. “It’s super important for us and I think at this point we’re right next to each other in rankings, so it’s exciting.”
Sophomore forward Danielle Dupont, who has been a major contributor of the offensive side, has been quiet in her last three games, tallying just one assist in that time.
However, she’s looking at the bigger picture. The Devils have a real shot at making nationals and these upcoming games could be used to make a case to go to Frisco, Texas.
“These games are just proving that we are actually have a strong shot for nationals,” Dupont said. “We are a contender to get into nationals and I think that is really big. Especially considering all the past years, we’ve just made so much progress and seeing all pay off, it’s really nice for everyone on the team.”
Colorado will be the first team over .500 that ASU has played since the loss to Adrian. In fact, both losses this season are against teams that are ranked and have a winning record.
As this weekend approaches, coach Ellis thinks this time could be different as the team have grown since the last loss.
“I think a lot of it is confidence and bringing confidence into this series,” she said. “We have a lot of young players, so going into those games, it was super nerve-wracking for them and I think going into this weekend it’s important to realize that we’re not the underdog anymore in the country, so it’s important to bring in that confidence.”
With senior night on Saturday, there is bound to be some mixed emotions as Nash-Boulden and defenseman Molly Potter will play their final game at Oceanside.
For Nash-Boulden, the four years spent with ASU will be something she’ll always cherish.
“It’s going to be fun; it’s going to be something to look back and remember for years,” Nash-Boulden said with regards to senior night. “It’s a little bit sad, obviously, looking forward and knowing that my time is limited, but I really am happy with where I left it and I think I gave it my all.”
After graduation, Nash-Boulden said she wants to be involved in hockey and would welcome helping out the program.
“Obviously I’d love to stay involved, help out these girls and help out the program,” she said. “And it’s something that’s very close to my heart. I coach with the local youth organization with the Kachinas and I’m obviously going to stay on the ice as long as I can with that and do my own thing.
“Anything I do to give back to the game, I’d be happy taking a roll in that.”
The first matchup begins on Friday at 8 p.m. and continues on Saturday at 7 p.m. as the Sun Devils look to finish the season undefeated at home.
