Hockey Finishes 2021 with Series Split at CC

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Coming off an exhilarating win on Friday night against Colorado College, the Arizona State men's ice hockey team came out of the gates swinging on Saturday night. The Sun Devils scored a shorthanded goal a mere 79 seconds into play to take the early lead, but would ultimately finish with a series split. 

Despite outshooting the Tigers (4-11-3), 30-27, the Sun Devils (10-10-0) fell 2-4 at Ed Robson Arena. 

Colin Theisen scored the opening goal just 79 seconds into the game. He lit the lamp while ASU was on a penalty kill for his second shorthanded goal of the season, tying him for first in SHGs in the NCAA. As a team, the Sun Devils have scored five goals on the kill this season, also tying for first in the nation. 

CC scored two consecutive goals to open the second period, but Benji Eckerle kept the Sun Devils close on the scoreboard with his second goal of the season. Through forty minutes, ASU led the faceoff battle, winning 61.9 percent of matchups. After two frames, ASU and CC remained neck-and-neck on the shot chart with the Sun Devils trailing by one. 

Ben Kraws started in net and gave up three goals. Cole Brady entered the game at 4:14 in the second period and did not surrender any as CC's fourth was on an empty net.

GOAL SUMMARY
First Period
1:19 ASU (1-0): ASU went on a penalty kill at 1:11 in the first for a hooking penalty on Sean Dhooghe. Following a faceoff in ASU's zone, Colin Theisen stole the puck and carried it across the sheet, delivering the puck through the five hole to its final resting place at the back of the net. 
5:36 CC (1-1): The Tigers evened the score four minutes later. 

Second Period
3:03 CC (1-2): CC took the lead
4:14 CC (1-3): CC extended the lead 
7:04 ASU (2-3): ASU closed the gap with a tip from Benji Eckerle. Jack Judson directed a slap shot on net from the blue line that rebounded off of CC's netminder. Eckerle seized the opportunity and netted his second goal of the season.

Third Period
18:19 CC (2-4): CC scored on an empty net.

UP NEXT: The Sun Devils enjoy a break through the Christmas holiday before getting the New Year started right with a home series on Jan. 1-2 against No. 9 Cornell. Puck drop for both nights is set for 7:05 p.m. MST with free online viewing available via the ASU Live Stream.