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Penn State Gets Overtime Revenge on Sun Devils

by thesundevils.com
Dec 11, 2020
Courtesy of Penn State Athletics

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Sun Devil Hockey suffered their second-straight heartbreaking loss after falling 3-2 in overtime to Penn State at Pegula Ice Arena Friday night. 

The Sun Devils (3-5-1) were able to rally back from a two-goal deficit to force the overtime period with key goals coming from senior forward Willie Knierim midway through the second period and senior forward Sean Dhooghe scoring his first goal in the Maroon and Gold to tie the game early in the third.

Junior goaltender Evan DeBrouwer recorded 47 saves on 50 shots faced, including key saves in the third period during a 5-on-3 penalty. He also picked up his second assist of the season on Dhooghe's game-tying goal.
 

"(Evan) was great. He deserved to win the game," said head coach Greg Powers. "He deserved a better fate. He was our best player tonight and was very, very, very good."

Game two against the Nittany Lions is scheduled for Sunday, December 13th at 12 p.m. MST on BTN+.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • Penn State opened the scoring with a power-play goal by the country's top scoring unit halfway through the first period. Doherty found Limoges on the backdoor for a quick redirect and the 1-0 lead.
  • After the first period, the Sun Devils were chasing a two-goal PSU lead as Tim Doherty snapped a one-timer past DeBrouwer with under two minutes left in the opening frame. 
  • With a 2-on-1 breakaway, Knierim made a move before elevating the puck top shelf off a saucer pass from junior forward PJ Marrocco, his first point of the season, to cut PSU's lead in half. Sophomore defensemen Jacob Semik earned the secondary assist.  
  • DeBrouwer made 16 saves for the Sun Devils in the second period to keep the deficit at just a goal entering the second intermission.
  • After further review, transfer forward Sean Dhooghe's shot on the crossbar was ruled a good goal to tie the game 2-2. Dhooghe took the puck up the ice himself after receiving a pass from DeBrouwer, giving him his second career point and assist. His first was against Wisconsin two weeks ago. 
  • The rest of the third period remained tied at two, pushing the game into overtime. DeBrouwer stopped all 17 shots on goal faced in the third period, including two highlight-reel stops. 
  • Penn State's Connor MacEachern scored his first goal of the season with a minute left in 3-on-3 overtime to win the game 3-2.   

GAME NOTES:

  • The Sun Devils finished 0-for-4 on the powerplay while the Nittany Lions went 1-for-3. Penn State led shots on goal, 50-34.
  • DeBrouwer put up a .940 save percentage with 47 saves on 50 shots for the Sun Devils. He also picked up his second assist of the season.
  • Knierim's goal was his third of the season and his 18th as a Sun Devil. 
  • Dhooghe's goal was his first goal and point as a Sun Devil. Dhooghe transferred from Wisconsin where he had 26 goals and 30 assists in his three years with the program. 
  • ASU is now 1-5-0 this season when the opponent scores first. 
  • The last time ASU lost in overtime was January 24, 2020 at Clarkson (L, 1-2).
  • The last meeting between the Sun Devils and Nittany Lions was November 3, 2018, with the Sun Devils winning 4-3 in overtime.
  • ASU's all-time program record against Penn State is now 1-6-0.

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