(Photo: Emma Gonzalez)
TEMPE – No. 14 Arizona State faced its highest-ranked opponent in a season opener in program history Friday night, and it didn’t come without its tests. Facing off against No. 5 Penn State and the projected first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Gavin McKenna, brought more eyes, and with them, more pressure than the Sun Devils have had on them in their short tenured history as an NCAA Division I program. For the 48th time, Mullet Arena was sold out by ASU students, all in anticipation of a heavyweight clash.
On the night that Joey Daccord’s number 35 was retired, the pressure bubble burst early for ASU (0-1), falling 6-3 to the Nittany Lions (1-0) after giving up four goals in the third period.
“It was just a horrific third period,” head coach Greg Powers said. “They looked like a team that just wanted it more than us in the third, and that’s disappointing.”
The Sun Devils started off the game with 11 freshmen and seven sophomores. With such a young team, it was expected that there would be some early mistakes. That is exactly what took place early for ASU, as Powers’ team took 3 penalties in the first period.
The Sun Devils would get away with their first penalty, but would pay for having too many players on the ice, conceding their first power-play goal of the season. ASU would find itself with chances throughout the first, but was unable to capitalize on any, including a 3-on-1 breakaway. Penn State scored again in the final minute, going up 2-0 at the end of the 1st period on a Charlie Cerrato goal with 32 seconds left.
The second period started off similarly to the first for the Sun Devils, creating chances with no real goal threat. That changed mid-way through the period when freshman Samuel Alfano got ASU’s first goal of the night, unassisted off a turnover in the neutral zone.
Arizona State would continue its momentum with Sean McGurn getting his first goal of the season on the power-play, the first of the season for a team that was ranked first last season in power-play goals. Less than a minute later, the second period turnaround was complete, with Logan Morrell bagging a goal, assisted by fellow Arizona Native Ty Nash, to give the Sun Devils the lead heading into the third period.
However, the third period is where it all came crashing down for ASU. The Sun Devils conceded the tying goal just over a minute into the period.
“Just gift-wrapped opportunities that you can’t give that team,” Powers said. “They’re just too dangerous, and when you make those mistakes, they counter so fast. It’s going to end up in the back of your neck.”
ASU would not recover from its early third-period woes. The Sun Devils had only one big chance in the third period, which Penn State sophomore goalie Kevin Reidler brushed aside, as he ended up with 44 saves on 47 shots. Penn State took the lead midway through the period on the second straight goal from Matt DiMarsico, who would finish the night on a hat trick, netting an empty-net goal to seal the game.
“They came back and punched us right in the mouth, and we didn’t recover,” Powers said.
The youth of the Sun Devils caught up to them in the third, as they took 3 penalties, including a costly one late, which allowed the Nittany Lions to score a power play goal of their own, making the score 5-3 with just under two minutes remaining.
ASU saw limited production from its veteran players in its opening matchup. Players like sophomore forward Cullen Potter, junior defenseman Anthony Dowd, and senior forwards Cruz Lucius and Bennett Schimek combined for a -7 goal differential when on the ice. Without their big-time players stepping up, the young Sun Devils team found themselves without answers late in the game.
“We need more out of our older guys,” Powers said. “It’s as simple as that. [Penn State’s] vets stepped up for them in big moments, and we need more out of ours if we’re going to beat this team.”
It will be a quick turnaround for ASU, as it plays Penn State in the second game of the series Saturday night at Mullett Arena. The Sun Devils hope for a total bounce-back after Friday’s highly disappointing result.
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