This weekend, the Sun Devils look to capture a win as they host Ohio University, an ACHA opponent, for a two game series at Oceanside Ice Area in Tempe.
For more than 42 days, the Sun Devils have been winless, and they have struggled in a plethora of areas. The team hasn't scored a goal in four consecutive games. ASU currently has a 6-19-2 record and a 13 game losing streak. Even with a win against this ACHA opponent, a victory against a Division I school is necessary to officially break their streak.
To its credit, the Sun Devils' have struggled against particularly difficult opponents. ASU has played against No. 12 Yale, No. 5 St. Cloud State, and No. 7 Nebraska-Omaha, just since mid-December. This week they take a break from NCAA DI talent.
The players and their head coach Greg Powers believe this weekend series is very winnable.
“We are battle tested,” he said. “We have been playing at a pace and a speed against the opponent that has made us a better team, I think everyone is going to see it this weekend. “
Key Players
Freshman forward Jordan Masters will be back in the lineup this week after missing last week's game. Masters is going into this game leading the team with 10 goals. It is essential for him to strike the net with aggressive intention to score. Besides Masters, they are not getting much going on the offensive end.
Two other players to highlight for the Sun Devils are freshman goaltender Ryland Pashovitz and junior goaltender Robert Levin. Levin is coming off a career-high 42 saves in their last match against Bemidji State. In addition, Pashovitz has been an anchor for ASU, stopping the puck 523 times this year.
Power Play
The Sun Devils must convert on the power play if they want to break their scoreless streak. The team has scored just 14.4 percent this year on the power play, and there isn’t a player that has more than 3 goals in power play situations.
Ohio did not make the jump to DI like the Sun Devils, but they are having a solid season. They have a 23-4-1 record in the ACHA, and are ranked No. 7 in the national poll.
Bobcats' Strength
Their big, physical front line is what sets the Bobcats apart. The Bobcats' starting line consists of players that are around 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds. Senior forward Michael Harris is their go-to offensive player. He leads the team with 17 goals and 15 assists. Harris' lightning fast shot has helped him accumulate 37 points in 27 games played.
They are solid on the defensive side, allowing just over one point per game. Ohio has two players on its defensive side that stand at 6-foot-5. Junior goaltender Aaron Alkema compliments the big defense. Alkema is playing at a high level with 4 shutouts, a 15-3 record and a 2.04 GAA.
Bobcats' Weakness
Although the Bobcats have a really strong top line, they struggle with depth. They can't allow the Sun Devils to wear them down because they do not have much to count on. The challenge for Ohio will be to find some production from its lower lines.
Reach the reporter at chaz.frazier@asu.edu or follow @chazf on Twitter.
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