The Arizona State hockey team won its 31st consecutive game against rival Arizona by a score of 2-1 on Friday night in Tucson.
This will be the last series the Sun Devils play before the ACHA’s national tournament begins next weekend, and the victory was oh so sweet for Sun Devil fans.
“We all knew it was going to be a gritty game and it was going to be whoever wanted it more,” senior defenseman Ryan Clark said.
With players such as Colin Hekle, Jordan Young, and Darcy Charrois out with injury, the maroon and gold saw some line changes again. Senior forward Dan Anderson played the entire game on defense, helping goaltender Joe D’Elia in front. The Sun Devils’ defense only allowed one goal on the night.
The first period was uneventful, with both teams falling short of the net. The Wildcats got a couple of good shots against D’Elia, and both teams kept the physicality high. Freshmen forward Stephen Collins was also blocked by Robert Schultz on a penalty shot at the end of the first period.
There was not a score until the second period when Wildcat forward Michael Ferreira scored a goal with 4:13 left on the clock. ASU then went into the third period down by one, where freshman forward Kyle Bowen and senior defenseman Ryan Clark found the back of the net.
The Sun Devils celebrated yet another victory and are preparing for their final regular season game of the season.
When asked about what ASU was planning on doing Saturday night, Clark said, “Keeping our composure and not playing into their chippiness, I mean they have nothing to lose it’s their senior night.”
The two teams will face off for one last time this season at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Tucson Convention Center.
