(Tempe, AZ) The No. 10/11 Arizona State ice hockey team (16-4-5) fell short in the second meeting of the season against No. 17/18 Cornell (7-4-3). The Sun Devils fought against a 2-0 deficit in front of a sellout crowd to tie the game in the third period. ASU suffered its first overtime loss in the history of Mullett Arena after previously holding an 8-0-2 record in extra minutes.
Alternate captain Ethan Szmagaj scored his first goal of the season to put ASU on the board early in the third period from a sneaky pass from Charlie Schoen. A few moments later, Jackson Niedermayer came in clutch with his second goal against Cornell so far this season, tying the game up at two-a-piece. Benji Eckerle and Ryan O’Reilly earned the assists.
The Sun Devils look to split the series back at Mullett Arena on Saturday night at 5 p.m. MST. The game can be streamed on ASU’s free Pac-12 Live Stream or listen in on the Sun Devil Hockey Radio Network, Fox Sports 910.
GAME NOTABLES
- Junior Ethan Szmagaj buried his first goal of the season in the third period, the defenseman’s first goal since March 3, 2023 against Alaska Anchorage.
- Ryan O’Reilly has earned at least one point in the last 3 games with four points total
- Forward Jackson Niedermayer notched his fourth goal of the season in the third period, his second against Cornell in both matchups.
- Senior Ryan O’Reilly recorded his fourth assist of the season, but now has back-to-back games recording a point for the second time this year.
- Joining O’Reilly on the assist was Benji Eckerle, notching his 11th assist of the year and the third straight game recording a point. The forward now has four points in the last three games.
- It’s the first loss by Arizona State in an overtime game held in Mullett Arena, now putting the Sun Devils’ record at 8-1-2 in overtime at home.
- ASU moves to 8-3 in one-goal games this year.
It’s the only the sixth time in Cornell history that they’ve played the same opponent three straight times.
QUOTABLES:
Arizona State Head Coach Greg Powers
On what worked in the third period:
“I think just simplicity and executing how we need to play. I thought we had a really good first six or seven minutes of the game and then gave up a goal. They had a nice shot opportunity and that settled them into their game. We didn’t really manage pucks the way we wanted to, but again, I’m proud of our guys. They went on a nice run there, 10 unbeaten games, and then to fight back again, down two, against that team isn’t easy to do and they did it tonight to force overtime, which is big for Pairwise. So really proud of how they fought back and that kid made a hell of a play in overtime. That’s the way the game goes.”
On pulling Niedermayer up to the third line:
“Yeah, I mean, they were going. Benji and O’Reilly have been playing really well and then Nieds (Niedermayer) obviously gives us something. He’s a good matchup against that team. They’re big, they’re strong. They skate well and they’re not a great matchup for some of the guys that are undersized or some of our guys that don’t skate quite as well as others. Nieds is a horse when he’s going, he’s a huge asset and he was really good for us tonight.”
On the message heading into tomorrow:
“I told them I was proud of them for coming back. Again, down two, going into the third and coming back and forcing overtime and getting some points for Pairwise, is huge. And tomorrow, let’s start a new streak. We’re capable of it and that’s what we’re going to have to do to get in the tournament. We know that, we’re 16-4-5. We’ve had a hell of a run here and we’ve got to start a new one tomorrow. That was the message.”
On what they saw on Cornell’s 3-on-3 in overtime:
“They did a good job possessing it. Just all standard things that they have to do. We had a few sloppy plays with the puck. I think fatigue played a factor with a shorter bench today so we’ve had a lot of good luck in overtime this year but that wasn’t the case tonight.”
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Megan Neely
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