The Arizona hockey team lost 4-0 at No. 1 Ohio on Saturday night and the Bobcats (10-0-0) used three power play goals and a 3-0 first period to earn the series sweep over No. 17 Arizona (4-4-0)
“We didn’t play as well Saturday night as we did Friday night,” head coach Sean Hogan said. “We had some break downs and we need to work on our mentality, playing tough, even when we’re tired and when we’re sore and start pushing them instead of being pushed around.”
In the first period Ohio scored two power play goals and one even strength to get ahead 3-0.
The Wildcats were able to match the Bobcats until Ohio scored on another power play with 7:34 left to make it 4-0.
“They were selfish penalties, penalties that shouldn’t have been taken,” senior forward Brian Slugocki said. “We couldn’t get the job done on the penalty kills.”
The Bobcats were 3-6 on power play chances and held Arizona to a 0-5 mark.
“It’s hard to play when you have a guy in the box,” Slugocki said.
Junior Steven Sisler started at goalie for the fifth straight game and made 37 saves.
Arizona sophomore forward David Rizk and Ohio sophomore forward Jonathan Pietramala were both ejected and given game disqualifications for fighting with less than a minute in the game.
Both will be suspended for the next game as well.
“They’re a tough team all around,” Hogan said. “Guys were working real hard and tempers flared and there was some mouthing off before that, and we felt they were taking some liberties on our goalie.”
After the first period, it was a zero-zero game for the second and most of the third period Hogan said.
“But overall, I think it was a positive weekend for us,” Hogan said. “We played some good hockey but we need to continue to improve if we want to get to nationals.”
The loss ends the Wildcats’ eight game month long road trip to start the season. Arizona’s home opener is Saturday against No. 23 Eastern Michigan.