The Arizona State Sun Devils (4-0-0) completed the series sweep at home, facing the Northern Michigan Wildcats (0-3-1) with a 5-1 score Saturday night to improve their best start in program history.
“We’re clicking pretty well through the group,” senior forward Matthew Kopperud said. “Now we have to keep rolling because those four games are behind us.”
After starting without any points on the board in the first, the Sun Devils controlled the game by holding onto the puck and eliminating any chances the Wildcats had.
“We didn’t put a puck in the net but we hit two posts,” head coach Greg Powers said. “We out shot them 13-4 I thought it was our best start.”
The second period found the Devils with an aggressive offensive attack. Putting up three goals in the period alone.
On the power play, the Sun Devils got on the board first after a low shot from sophomore forward Charlie Schoen, his first goal of the season. The puck was dished from the blue line by freshman defenseman Anthony Dowd, who registered the assist on the score.
“[Schoen] was probably our best forward tonight,” Powers said. “He was dynamic, he was moving his feet and he created all kinds of chances.”
NMU responded with their own power play shift after a tripping penalty was called on graduate forward Brian Chambers.
Unassisted, freshman forward Tanner Latsch rips one from the right wing, which flies past Semptimphelter before he can react. Latsch’s goal put a roadblock in the momentum the Devils were trying to build, tying the game 1-1.
Back on the power play after a hooking penalty, the Devils resecured their lead.
A crossing pass from the senior forward Lukas Sillinger left the net open for Kopperud in the right wing, putting the Devils back in the lead 2-1.
The Sun Devils extended their lead 3-1 after senior forward Alex Young received the rebound from sophomore netminder Beni Halasz’s pads, firing the puck in the back of the net.
The Devils built off that power-play goal by closing off any offensive opportunity for NMU, only allowing them seven shots in the period.
“It’s all about killing the play and transitioning as fast as you can,” Powers said. “Our guys really bought into it.”
The Sun Devils continued the attack in the 3rd period.
Halfway through the period, NMU gets called for slashing, which puts the Devils on the power play. The man-advantage was unsuccessful for the Devils, and the penalty was killed.
Shortly after the failed power play, the Devils got a second chance after NMU got called for too many men on the ice. Another 2 minutes for the Devils with the man advantage.
On the second chance, senior forward Dylan Jackson tips Schoen’s pass over Halasz’s shoulder, extending the lead 4-1.
With the assist from Schoen, he registered two points on the night after struggling offensively the night before.
“I wanted to give everything I had to get the sweep,” Schoen said. “Pucks were bouncing my way. Sometimes it happens and tonight was one of those nights.”
The Devils received another power play opportunity after a roughing call from NMU, resulting in a 5-minute major.
Although they had extended time with the man advantage, the Devils only ripped three shots during the penalty.
Then, for the game’s final goal, senior forward Benji Eckerle tips a loose puck behind the skate of Halasz to set the score 5-1.
The 18th-ranked Sun Devils improved their record to 4-0-0 and await a climb in the USCHO rankings.
“We’re bigger, faster and we just have a little bit more inner belief,” Powers said. “You can feel it. It’s a good balanced team that’s bought in to playing the right way.”
The Sun Devils will play in their first series on the road to face the Miami Redhawks (3-1-0) on October 27th and 28th at 5:05 p.m. MST.
The series will be a preview for many as the Sun Devils plan to play in the NCHC next season with Miami.
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