Air Force Academy
Arizona State
Falcons suffer first loss of season
10/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Arizona State scored two goals in the first period en route to a 5-2 win over Air Force in a non-conference game on Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona State (1-3-0 overall) scored early and late in the first period for a 2-0 lead at the end of one. At 5:53 of the first period, the Sun Devils won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Robbie Baillargeon took a shot that was knocked down in front. Dylan Hollman collected the loose puck and scored his first of the season. With 52 seconds left in the opening period, David Norris made a cross ice pass through the neutral zone to spring Brett Gruber down the right side. Gruber scored his first career goal for a 2-0 lead.
Air Force (2-1-1 overall) got on the board early in the second period. Dan Bailey took a shot that was saved and freshman Pierce Pluemer put back the rebound for his first career goal at 3:37. However, the Sun Devils scored two power-play goals for a 4-1 lead. Jakob Stridesberg fired a slap shot that was saved and Tyler Busch slid in the rebound at 7:30. It was the first power-play goal Air Force allowed all season after killing 16 straight. Then late in the period, Baillargeon scored on the power play for a 4-1 lead. Nicholas Gushue threaded a pass through the slot and Baillargeon scored from the left side at 13:58.
Early in the third period, Tyler Ledford skated coast-to-coast, making a move through three Sun Devils at the blue line and took a shot that was saved. However, the rebound clanged off an ASU defenseman and went in for Ledford's first goal of the season at 7:55. Ledford's goal cut the ASU lead to 4-2, but the Sun Devils answered on a 3-on-2 rush as Wade Murphy gave the home team a 5-2 lead at 12:55.
Air Force outshot ASU, 26-23, in the game. ASU was 2-for-5 on the power play while Air Force was 1-for-5. Billy Christopoulos made 18 saves while Joey Daccord made 24 for the Sun Devils.
"It was disappointing tonight as the effort was just not there," assistant coach Joe Doyle said. "We were concerned with some areas even though we had won some games, but today we were exposed in those areas. We didn't win many battles and give Arizona State credit, they played really hard. We have to bring it more consistently. We had some guys that really brought it, but across the board our compete level just wasn't there. We are not down on this team, but this is certainly a wake-up call."
Air Force returns home to host a two-game Atlantic Hockey series against Bentley, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 21-22, at 7:05 pm MT each night at the Cadet Ice Arena.
--30--
