Sun Devils suffer first sweep of season to No. 14 Providence

(Photo: Marina Williams/WCSN)

After giving up two goals in the first 20 minutes a night ago, the Sun Devils locked down the first period, not allowing any goals from the Friars, but they also didn’t get any of their own. The first 20 came and went with a strong start for Arizona State, but Providence began to find its footing as the period went on, outshooting the Sun Devils 19-14 and 10-5 in shots on goal.

In fact, the first goal didn’t come until over 45 minutes into the game. Scoreless through two periods and the shots on goal even at 20-20, the Sun Devils were primed for a strong third period; but Providence stuck first. Despite a late-game strike from ASU, the Sun Devils (1-4-1) were unable to come away from Rhode Island with a split, falling 2-1 in game two to No. 14 Friars (2-1).

ASU’s top line had a new look on Saturday night after senior forward Ryan Kirwan was moved up to the left wing spot in exchange for graduate forward Lukas Sillinger, who was moved down to the second line. Kirwan joined the Jackson brothers, who have remained staples on that line to start the year. The only time the Jackson and Sillinger line has not been the top line was in game two against Michigan.

Saturday also saw a change in goaltending. Redshirt junior Gibson Homer got the night off, and senior Luke Pavicich got the nod for his second game of the season. Head coach Nate Leaman also elected for a goaltender change, as graduate goaltender Zachary Borgiel, a transfer from Merrimack, was given the crease for his first start in a Friar uniform over junior goaltender Philip Svedebäck.

Kirwan was the lone Sun Devil to score all weekend as he netted his second goal of the series — and fourth of the year — late in game two. Trailing 2-0 late in the third period, Arizona State head coach Greg Powers elected to pull his goaltender with under three minutes to play, giving the Sun Devils a six-on-five opportunity. Kirwan planted himself at the bottom of the left circle, where graduate forward Ty Jackson found him for a quick wrist shot that beat Borgiel, who was seconds away from a shutout. The Penn State transfer had the second most shots on goal for ASU with five only trailing freshman forward Cullen Potter who had six, the most among both teams. Kirwan did have the most shots of any player with nine total.

The third period was the game-changer for the Sun Devils, as early into the final frame, the Friars broke the ice. Graduate forward Nick Poisson received a pass from sophomore forward Hudson Malinoski. Poisson fired the first shot while Malinoski drove the net hard to pick up the loose change and chip the rebound over the head of Pavicich, who was down in the butterfly.

Before the Friar goal, Pavicich was peppered with three big chances before the Sun Devils could get a clear. During the clear, ASU went for a change, and the Friars collected the puck from behind their own net and took it back the other way to score.

Coming down late in the third period with under five minutes to go, senior defenseman Noah Beck had his pocket picked by Malinoski while trying to leave the Sun Devil defensive zone. Malinoski finds senior defenseman Taige Harding walking the blue line, where he finds a seam and beats Pavicich for his first goal of the year and the game-winning goal.

This is just the beginning of what will be a long stretch of road games for the Sun Devils, they won’t play a home game until Nov. 15 against Omaha.