TEMPE – The Arizona State ice hockey team (11-15-0) suffered from bad puck luck on Friday night and dropped the first game of the series to the No. 20 RIT Tigers (16-6-1) in a 5-1 loss at Mullett Arena. It marks the first time ASU has lost to the Tigers, moving their record all-time to 6-1.
Freshman forward Teddy Lagerback nailed his third goal of the season to prevent from ASU going scoreless against the Tigers. Senior forward Robert Mastrosimone notched his team-leading 18th assist of the season along with Scottsdale native Josh Doan, who earned the secondary assist and his 12th assist of the year.
Both teams battled in the opening period but RIT scored the opening goal with two minutes remaining in the initial frame. From there the Tigers scored three goals in the middle frame to make the game 4-0.
In an unusual series of events, ASU scored and then had it taken away as RIT challenged the ASU goal claiming that they had scored three minutes earlier (but it had not been recognized by officials). After video review, officials removed ASU’s goal and gave RIT the goal from minutes ago to extend the Tiger lead to 5-0. Eventuall with a minute remaining, Lagerback scored ASU’s sole goal of the night.
Senior goaltender Ben Kraws came in for relief of TJ Semptimphelter in the middle of the second period. In Kraws’ second appearance this season he notched 17 saves for the Sun Devils.
Returning to the lineup after missing six games due to injury, junior Matthew Kopperud tied the team lead in shots with five on the night, and also added two blocks, which tied Doan.
Doan also tacked on five shots and two blocks Friday night.
UP NEXT:
The Sun Devils will look to split the series against RIT tomorrow at 4 p.m. MST. at Mullett Arena. Coverage can be seen on ASU Live Stream and can be heard on FOX SPORTS 910 KGME, the home of Sun Devil Hockey.
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