Urban, Sun Devils surrender late goal, suffer weekend sweep

By: Faith Wick 

TEMPE, Ariz.- Arizona State hosted St. Cloud State for the second straight night. The final score on the ice was 4-3, leaving fans struck after the wild ending. 

Feb. 6, St. Cloud State won 4-1 against the Sun Devils, for the first game of the two-game Tempe series. SCSU will return to Minnesota with a 2-0 series sweep. 

“For the most part, it is all a mindset thing,” senior forward captain Bennett Schimek said.

In the first period, ASU took the lead early by scoring a goal in the first 10 minutes of the game, with junior center Sean McGrun sneaking the puck into St. Cloud State’s net. 

The Sun Devil lead didn’t last long, with senior defenseman Max Smolinski tying it up for the Huskies. 

Early struggles led to a rough season

ASU has been struggling in hockey this season. After losing both home opener games to No. 6 Penn State, things haven’t been easy for the Maroon and Gold. They currently face a 13-16-1 record after tonight. ASU has lost five out of its last six games. 

“It’s really unfortunate, you are sitting here first in the league at the beginning of the year. Now we are about a point out of competing for the Penrose Cup,” Arizona State head coach Greg Powers said.  

As the second period was underway, SCS found its way to take the lead. During a power play thirteen minutes into the second, junior forward Tyson Gross took a slapshot against the ASU goalie. 

Arizona State did find the net to tie the game up, but it was ruled offside after St. Cloud State challenged the goal.

Starting the third period off strong, ASU scored less than 30 seconds into the new period. Sophomore forward Noah Powell tied up the game 2-2, leaving the student section stunned. 

With constant back and forth on the ice, SCS scored exactly five minutes into the third period. Freshman forward Noah Urness quickly allowed the Huskies to regain the lead for the second time. ASU challenged the goal for a potential chipping, but lost the call in the end. 

Out of all odds, Arizona State responded when needed most. Scoring a goal with 3:55 minutes left to go in the game. Freshman forward Carmelo Crandell turned things around for the Sun Devils. The game was tied up for the third time on the ice. 

Sun Devils lose tie late

In the final seconds of the game, freshman goaltender Samuel Urban skated out around 50 feet away from his net during a Sun Devils power play. SCS used the opportunity to score while being the team to defend the ASU power play. Gross found the back of the net for the second time to clutch the win for St. Cloud State. 

It’s tough because he was so good. You can’t pin it on your goalie, it’s an unfortunate mistake he made” said Powers. 

Gross scored with 37.5 seconds left to go in the game, leaving the power play helpless for the Sun Devils. 

Powers said, “We have not been able to finish close games this year. That squaring is on me, I haven’t been able to get through to this team. I can’t convince them to win games like tonight, last night and North Dakota.” 

“At the end of the day we are who we are, and it’s completely on me” said Powers.