It took 11 games, but the ASU club hockey team finally dropped its first game in regulation.
The Sun Devils lost to Ohio on Saturday 2-3, just a day after defeating them in a shoot out 5-4.
It was the first loss of ASU coach Greg Powers’ regime, and with No. 1 Lindenwood (9-1) just two weeks away, the Sun Devils have their work cut out for them.
No. 3 ASU (8-1-2) blew a three-goal lead on Friday, as a trio of power play goals got the No. 6 Ohio Bobcats (7-3-2) back into the game.
Freshman Troy Scott got the Sun Devils on the board in the first period as he continues to click with sophomore forward Patrick Rogan and junior forward Marcus Wilhite.
It was all Sun Devils in the second period as freshman forward David Jantzie, sophomore forwards Danny McAuliffe and Dan Styrna pushed ASU to a three-goal lead.
Styrna came into the season with sky-high expectations and they only got higher after Powers named him assistant captain. The goal was Styrna’s first of the year, and after a slow start it appears that he has found his game.
“It felt good,” Styrna said of his goal.
Styrna is just one assist off the team lead and currently sits sixth among forwards in points.
The Sun Devils escaped with the victory on Friday as senior goalie Mark Schacker stopped three out of four shots in the shoot out and Wilhite and senior forward Patrick Lind each scored to give ASU the edge.
“[The team played] really well on Friday, we took some tough penalties, but the win really shows the character of this team,” Powers said.
Saturday, however, just never felt right for the Sun Devils.
“We came out flat footed and just didn’t have a lot of jump in our stride,” Styrna said.
The Sun Devils got goals from McAuliffe and sophomore defenseman Darcy Charrois on Saturday, but were never able to crack the code that was Ohio goaltender Blake MacNicol for the tying goal.
“Ohio was just the harder working team that night,” Jantzie said.
Powers was not pleased with ASU’s effort but still remained confident.
“It took everything Ohio had to beat us on an off night,” Powers said.
ASU picked the wrong game to go cold and with just one game this week, the Sun Devils will need to find their game in preparation for Lindenwood.
Powers believes that the rest of the season is going to depend on his seniors stepping up to lead the way. Lind and senior forward Paul Scola are both off to slow starts. The two have combined for just five goals, and 13 points on the year.
Powers was not happy with the play of his veteran core this weekend.
“The older guys are going to need to step up,” Powers said. “Every senior needs to be better. Until they realize that the season is riding on their shoulders, the team will be inconsistent.”
Accountability will be the theme of ASU’s season the rest of way. Powers appears to have reached his limit on leeway for his seniors.
“They can only get the benefit of the doubt for so long,” Powers said.
The next hurdle for the Sun Devils is Division II Colorado State on Thursday in Tempe.
Nick Licalzi is a freelance reporter contributing to The State Press. Reach the reporter at nlicalzi@asu.edu