ASU Uses Fearless Performance to Split Weekend Set with RedHawks

TEMPE, Ariz – The Arizona State Sun Devils hosted the Miami (OH) RedHawks at Mullet Arena to end the final weekend before the start of the second semester. After an ASU, defensive-dominating home win, they walked out of Mullet Arena with their heads held high.

Both teams showed drive, passion, and dedication in this game, struggling to find ways to come out on top offensively, which made scoring very challenging. The Sun Devils exceeded defensively, which was definitely the highlight of this game. The Sun Devils did not back down, coming out on top in the narrow victory. It was their seventh straight Saturday win.

ASU showed no fear

Early in the game, ASU came out calm, cool, and collected, with high drive and stellar defense. Freshman goalie Samuel Urban led the charge, saving 17 goals in the first period, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Midway through the first period, sophomore forward Logan Morrell got a roughing penalty call. Fans were very unhappy about this, leading someone in the crowd to say, “What is this, basketball?”

“I was really disappointed in the penalties we took in the first and how we started the game,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said

The first period came to an end with the score ending 0-0. Both teams struggled to score, but there was plenty of time left. ASU’s first-period defense was phenomenal, even after multiple penalties.

Going into the second period, the Sun Devils were seeking a consistent rhythm to improve their offensive success if they wanted to come out on top.

As the second period played out, there was a little more aggression on the offensive side for ASU. However, as the time ticked by, both teams seemed to be in a jam.

The Miami RedHawks were taking most of the shots, but couldn’t find that momentum. The Sun Devils were playing more laid-back offensively.

It was the defense that made this game strong because neither offensive side could get going. Meanwhile, penalties on both sides continued to mount, leaving players and the crowd very frustrated.

Urban made fantastic saves, making him the key player in this game.

“I try to focus to be loose, don’t use my brain basically. Play loose, try to focus, stop every single shot,” Urban said.

As the second period came to a close, ASU started to show signs of a more aggressive offense, striving to score. Though both teams still struggled offensively, leaving the scoreboard 0-0 once again.

Don’t count the Sun Devils out

Heading into the third period, ASU struggled once again to find that offensive momentum, but as time ticked away, that hunger for an ASU victory grew stronger.

Urban continued making key saves that kept the Sun Devils alive, while both teams raced down each end of the ice, fighting for every shot. Urban ended the game with 37 saves, giving up not one!

In a high-paced race to the Miami RedHawks’ goal, sophomore forward Noah Powell scored the first goal of the game midway through the final period. The crowd went wild, with the Sun Devils leading 1-0 while time ticked down to the final minutes.

ASU finally found an offensive drive, and with the crowd’s enthusiasm, things finally began to fall into place for the Sun Devils.

With 6 RedHawks fighting to score on the ice, the Sun Devils showed no fear, and their defense took them all the way to the end to take home an ASU victory. The crowd showed total support while the Sun Devils put in the work.

“Very proud of our guys’ good, gutsy effort. The first game we played, where it was kind of like a real good defensive effort. Urban was great, and the guys found a way,”
Powers said.

What’s next for ASU?

After ASU’s phenomenal win over Miami (OH), the Sun Devils will look to keep that momentum going as they take on North Dakota at Mullett Arena on Friday night at 7 p.m.