ASU hockey capped off its 2020-21 season with an 8-3 loss and 5-0 shutout victory against Ohio State. Friday's win was the team's first shutout win of the year.
Thursday
Although coming into the series with motivation to end the year on a high note with a series sweep, ASU failed to follow through on those expectations in Thursday's game.
ASU allowed three goals in the first 11:48 of the first period to Ohio State's CJ Regula, Travis Treloar and Austin Pooley.
Each team scored two goals in the second period, with ASU senior forward Johnny Walker scoring his fourth goal of the season 36 seconds into the period.
Ohio State responded with two goals to push the score to 5-1. ASU freshman forward Michael Mancinelli scored with 3:59 left in the period to send the game into the final period at a 5-2 score.
Freshman goaltender Cole Brady was replaced by junior Evan DeBrouwer in net following Ohio State's fifth goal in the second period. DeBrouwer allowed three goals in the third period, ending the night with 14 saves.
Freshman forward Benji Eckerle scored a goal that came seven seconds after OSU's eighth goal of the night, resulting in an 8-3 loss for ASU.
Friday
The Sun Devils got off to a hot start in their season finale, scoring three goals in the opening period.
Senior forward James Sanchez opened the game with a goal assisted by Walker at 8:39 into the first period. Senior forward Willie Knierim followed Sanchez by scoring a shorthanded goal less than three minutes later.
ASU has only scored one other time while on the penalty kill, which also came from the stick of Knierim back on Nov. 28 against Wisconsin.
The Sun Devils' third goal of the first period came on the power-play from redshirt junior forward Chris Grando just over three minutes after the second. Both Knierim and Sanchez earned assists on the score.
Freshman forward Matthew Kopperud added onto ASU's lead by scoring 5:42 into the second period. ASU's fifth goal came from Eckerle 17:42 into the third period.
Brady saved 41 shots in the game, earning ASU's only shutout of the year. With Friday's victory, ASU ended the 2020-21 season with a 7-16-3 record.
Reach the reporter at aklatsky@asu.edu and follow @averyklatsky on Twitter.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
Continue supporting student journalism and donate to The State Press today.
