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#13 UNIV. OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA (M1) 5, #10 ARIZONA STATE UNIV. (M1) 4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tempe, Ariz. (2/06/10) – On Saturday night, the tenth-ranked Arizona State University Sun Devils entered a must-win situation inside Oceanside Ice Arena. Another loss to the 13th-ranked University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos and their chance at making the National Tournament in March would be all but over. The Sun Devils battled hard all night long against the Bronchos, but it was not enough as they fell 5-4.
Both sides would get chances early on as the action shifted from one end of the rink to the other. Central Oklahoma struck first as Jonathon Cannizzo scored on a power play chance. Just about a minute and a half later, Shawn Steggles extended the lead to 2-0. Knowing that their slim hopes of going to the National Tournament hanged on a victory, Arizona State bounced back. Kris Myshak scored to draw the Sun Devils to within one. With 25 seconds left, Paul Scola continued his recent hot streak to tie the game at two after 20 minutes.
The second period had both teams trying to get the go-ahead goal. Arizona State goaltender Mark Schacker and Central Oklahoma goaltender Justin Sgro performed valiantly to keep their respective squads tied. Midway through the stanza, Joe Schweiger put the Sun Devils on top, 3-2. That would be the only scoring done in the frame as the Sun Devils took a one-goal lead into the third period.
The most important 20 minutes of the Arizona State season got off to a terrible start. Jonathon Cannizzo scored his second goal of the night to tie the game. 80 seconds later, JM Biron scored and the Bronchos retook the lead. The Sun Devils would get a chance on the power play as Justin Sgro received a delay of game penalty for intentionally pushing the net loose. Sgro also seemed to suffer an injury at that time as he was laying on the ice and trainers from both sides attended to him. The Central Oklahoma goaltender continued the game and his team killed off the penalty to remain on top. Just past the midway point of the third, Brent Block scored to put the Bronchos up 5-3. Coincidental penalties began to come left and right as the Sun Devils’ emotion started getting the better of them. With just more than seven minutes left, Paul Scola would pull Arizona State back to within one. The Sun Devils would get a golden chance to tie the game with a five-on-three power play but failed to take advantage of it. One last opportunity came with 30 seconds left as Justin Sgro was guilty of another delay of game, but they would not get the goal they needed. Central Oklahoma players stormed the ice after the final buzzer, ecstatic about bolstering their case for the National Tournament. The dejected Arizona State players could only watch from the other end of the rink as their hopes for the Tournament, once within their sights, now faded away from them. The Sun Devils play their final home game at Oceanside Ice Arena on Friday night against the Villanova Wildcats.
SCORING SUMMARY
University of Central Oklahoma – 2 0 3 – 5
Arizona State University – 2 1 1 – 4
First Period: 1, UCO, Cannizzo (Novak, Steggles), 9:54 (pp). 2, UCO, Steggles (Cannizzo, Jansen), 8:16. 3, ASU, Myshak (Baker, Anderson), 6:32. 4, ASU, Scola (Stewart, Schweiger), :25. Penalties: Mackey, ASU (cross checking), 10:17; Scolaro, UCO (holding), 3:40; Jansen, UCO (tripping), 1:22; Parson, ASU, major (checking from behind), 1:22.
Second Period: 5, ASU, Schweiger (Vassos, Scola), 11:27. Penalties: Stewart, ASU (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:37; Cannizzo, UCO (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:37; Jansen, UCO (hooking), 3:51.
Third Period: 6, UCO, Cannizzo (unassisted), 17:46. 7, UCO, J. Biron (Panizzo), 16:22. 8, UCO, Block (Novak), 9:23. 9, ASU, Scola (St. Pierre, Schacker), 7:19. Penalties: Sgro, UCO, served by Cannizzo (delay of game), 15:33; Baker, ASU (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:35; Novak, UCO (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:35; Hirsch, UCO (hooking), 7:39; Schweiger, ASU (high sticking), 7:39; Panizzo, UCO (hooking), 4:53; Jansen, UCO (slashing), 3:34; Mackey, ASU, double minor (unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing), 2:38; Panizzo, UCO, double minor (unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing), 2:38; Scola, ASU (roughing), 2:38; Scolaro, UCO (roughing), 2:38; Sgro, UCO, served by Szecsodi (delay of game), :30; Scolaro, UCO (cross checking), :00; Chadwick, ASU (cross checking), :00.
Shots on goal:
University of Central Oklahoma – 16 12 12 – 40
Arizona State University – 18 11 13 – 42
Goalies: UCO, Sgro (42 shots-38 saves); ASU, Schacker (40-35)
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