Hockey Splits Series Against UML

TEMPE, Ariz. — Despite a late game-tying goal in the third period, Arizona State ice hockey (1-1-0) fell 4-2 to UMass-Lowell (1-1-0) to end the opening weekend with a series split. 

The River Hawks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Sun Devils fought back four minutes into the second period in a two-on-one where sophomore forward Matthew Kopperud scored a goal to pull within one. Early in the third period, graduate forward Jack Becker put one in the back of the net to tie things up at two. It wasn't enough as UMass-Lowell answered a minute later to take the lead back and later secured an empty-net goal to seal the win.

"We dug a hole and like I said after the first, we had to find a way to come back and we did so I'm proud of the guys for that," head coach Greg Powers said. "We were just chasing, we were chasing that team all weekend. Last night we were able to pull it off, tonight we almost did. They had kind of a weird goal there before we could really try to take the game over and it was what it was."

The Sun Devils head to Colorado to face the Denver Pioneers. Puck drop is slated for 6:00 p.m. MST on Friday night and 5:00 p.m. MST on Saturday. 

GAME NOTES:

• The Sun Devils outshot the River Hawks 14-7 in the second period. 
• Kopperud registered his third goal of the series and currently leads the team in goals. 
• In his first collegiate series, Doan recorded five assists. 
• The series between Arizona State and UMass-Lowell now stands at 2-4-0, with UML leading. 
• The Sun Devils went 1-4 on the power play, while the River Hawks finished 2-3. 
• Junior netminder Ben Kraws ended the night with 33 saves and a .917 save percentage. 
• The last time Arizona State had five power play goals in a series was against Robert Morris in February 2020.