(Tempe, AZ) Despite a second-straight game with over 40 shots on net, an injury-laden Arizona State hockey team (3-7-1, 0-3-0) fell, 4-2 (EN), to the Omaha Mavericks (3-6-0, 1-2-0) on Friday night at Mullett Arena. In ASU’s first NCHC game on home ice in program history, alternate captain Ty Jackson and defenseman Anthony Dowd netted the ASU goals in front of netminder Luke Pavicich in his second consecutive start.
The Sun Devils outshot the Mavericks, 43-23, throughout the 60 minutes including a massive 18-shot third period – the most for the Sun Devils in a single period this season. Both teams took their turns capitalizing on power play chances.
“Even with all the guys we have out, I think it’s pretty impressive with how we’re playing with some of these go-to guys out,” said head coach Greg Powers. “It’s hard not to be results-focused. I struggle with it as much as anyone when you’re outplaying your opposition and you’re outshooting them.
ASU has been forced to operate in a “next man up” mentality for almost the entirety of the 2024-25 season with an injury-riddled forward unit. Four key players, all proven point-scorers, were missing from the lineup for the home-opening conference series against Omaha. The four injured players combine for 197 career points.
- Dylan Jackson – 56 career points: 27G, 29A
- Cruz Lucius – 68 career points: 24G, 44A
- Bennett Schimek – 47 career points: 24G, 23A
- Charlie Schoen – 26 career points: 9G, 17A
The Sun Devils were held scoreless through the opening frame until Ty Jackson opened up the scoring for the Sun Devils in the second period with his second goal of the season. He was assisted by Ryan Kirwanand Brasen Boser (first career point for the rookie).
GAME NOTABLES
- Friday night was ASU’s first home conference game in the NCHC in program history
- ASU won the faceoff battle with a 56.9 percent success rate. Kyle Smolen led the charge with a 75 percent win rate (6-2). Fourth-line center Cole Gordon went perfect at the dot with four wins on four chances.
- ASU put up 41 shots at No. 8 Colorado College last Saturday night and nearly committed a blueprint copy against the Mavericks on Friday night at Mullett Arena to go two consecutive games with 40-plus shots on goal. Similarly to the game at CC, ASU outshot Omaha but double.
- On the power play in the third period, Anthony Dowd tallied his first goal of the season.
- In ASU’s opening goal, Brasen Boser collected his first career point in the NCAA, a secondary assist on Ty Jackson’s lamplighter.
PERIOD BREAKDOWN
Period 1
The Sun Devils looked threatening on the ice throughout the first 20 minutes of play, with ten shots on net and a stout penalty kill. Two minutes before intermission, Omaha opened the scoring to take the 1-0 lead and then immediately enjoyed a power play opportunity following a minor penalty on ASU for tripping.
Period 2
Following a successful penalty kill, ASU was on the prowl to knot the game up and Ty Jackson answered the call. Jackson bagged his second goal of the year, following a nifty pass from Ryan Kirwan to tie the game at 1-1. Minutes later ASU was on its first power play of the night, but couldn’t cash in on Omaha’s two-minute minor for tripping. Following the power play, the Sun Devils kept putting pressure on Omaha throughout the period, yet couldn’t sneak past the Mavericks goaltender who came up with huge saves to keep the score tied. Omaha found the back of the net again with less than five minutes remaining in the period. As the clock wound down, the Sun Devils headed back onto the power play and entered intermission down a goal, 2-1.
Period 3
Continuing on the power play remaining from the second period, ASU looked to even things up to begin the third period but was thwarted of any opportunity by Omaha’s penalty kill unit. At 3:44 into the period, the Sun Devils again went power play, and third time was the charm for ASU. Anthony Dowd found the back of the net to tie the game, 2-2. Following the equalizer for the Sun Devils, a battle ensued in which ASU outshot Omaha 18-5. Omaha seized the opportunity with a game-winning goal with three minutes left to play. ASU pulled its goalie, but Omaha scored an empty netter to take the first game in the series at Mullett Arena.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Paige Shacklett
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