(Photo: Nick Badders/WCSN)
Entering into the second period of Arizona State’s first Western Women’s Collegiate Hockey League conference tournament match, it really was anyone’s guess as to who would pull away with a win.
Sure, ASU had gathered the momentum in the final five minutes of the first period, but Colorado State had come out firing in the first 15.
Even still, the second period came around as a 0-0 stalemate. Nothing indicative that ASU would run away with a 4-1 victory
That was until freshman forward Sara Zimmerman cleaned up a loose puck in front of the net on the power play to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead nearly 12 minutes into the second period.
“It was a little bit of a slow start,” assistant coach Kaley Marino said. “Overall, not bad, but we’d like to start a little bit stronger.”
For most of the first half of the second period, the Sun Devils were slowly, but surely taking control of the game.
Zimmerman’s goal seemingly was the spark needed to for the Sun Devils to take firm control of the momentum and run with it.
“We took a little bit of time to get our first goal,” senior forward and alternate captain Molly Potter said. “Once we finally got it, we just went from there.”
However, CSU would make sure they would stay in the game, even if they were being outplayed. They held ASU to the 1-0 scoreline for half of the third period.
However, Molly Potter opened the floodgates for ASU, 10 minutes in on a delayed penalty.
Potter’s goal was just what the doctor had ordered for ASU as just a minute and a half later and on the power play, freshman forward Karlie Chadwick cleaned up yet another loose puck in front of the net and put the team up 3-0.
It was the team’s second power play goal of the night.
“Molly (Potter) just works hard consistently,” Marino said. “She’s just never not working hard. When (Potter) gets rewarded with things like (a goal), it just inspires everybody.”
The Rams got one back with just under two minutes to go in the game, but an empty netter from freshman forward Andi Main sealed the Sun Devils’ 4-1 victory.
“Every period we got a little bit better,” Marino said. “What we needed for the third period was a little bit of ‘umph’ in terms of batting it away in front of the net… Overall, good production.”
Notable Tidbit:
Every single one of ASU’s goals were scored on special teams play in one facet or another. The team netted two power play goals, scored a goal on a delayed penalty, and scored an empty netter.
“I think we just moved (the puck) around a lot,” Potter said. “We practice so much, the special teams. I think putting that into the game and just realizing what we had to positioning, moving it, getting shots, I think that all came out today when it all needed to come out.”
Now the Sun Devils sit one win away from advancing to what would be their first ever WWCHL championship game. First though, they have to get through the hosts, Utah.
“The key to success is just to keep the momentum. Just moving our feet, getting pumped, and starting out right from the start.”
