The University of Arizona men’s hockey team (14-13) swept a two-game road series against San Diego State University (4-21). The Wildcats won 7-0 in the first game and won 9-3 in the second game in the series played in Kroc Center Ice in San Diego, Calif. on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8.
Game 1:
Arizona started game 1 of the series with Hadyn Gould in the net. Through his first 19 starts this season, Gould had a record of 11-8, winning both games of the team’s last series against the University of Central Oklahoma.
Forward Carter Hanrahan opened scoring as he capitalized off a power play to get the Wildcats on the board. Hanrahan’s goal would be his third goal of the season to give the team a 1-0 lead. This score would stand at the end of the first period.
The Arizona lead was doubled less than three minutes into the second period as forward Dylan Walker found the back of the net. This would lead to one of the best periods of the season for the Wildcats as five goals were scored in the period and Arizona led 6-0 going into the third period. Goals were scored by Riley Ruh, Tyler Shetland, Michael Pizzo, and twice by Walker.
The third period saw defenseman Billy Moloney get his first Arizona goal off of a power play to make it a 7-0 game. Gould finished the game with a shutout as the Wildcats won game 1 of the series 7-0.
Game 2:
Gould once again started game 2 of the series coming off of his shutout performance.
Arizona jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Dylan Walker less than two minutes into the game. Forward Wyatt Stefan doubled the Wildcats’ lead as his great first month with the Wildcats continued. San Diego State was able to get back into the game, scoring three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead with 3:01 left in the first period. Arizona was able to respond, however, with Cooper Flynn getting his first Arizona goal to tie the game at three. This score held going into the second period.
Like game 1 of the series, Arizona used a great second period to take control of the game, with the team scoring three goals. Ruh would score first off a power play opportunity. This would be followed by two more from Moloney and Shetland taking a 6-3 lead going into the third period.
The third period saw the Wildcats score three more goals with Stefan, Ari Rossi and Jack Kurrle finding the back of the net to give Arizona a 9-3 win and a series sweep.
Looking Ahead:
The Wildcats are now up to No. 6 in the Western Collegiate Hockey League standings with 29 points on the season. The team’s next series will be next Thursday and Friday for a two-game home series against ASU. This will be the team’s final regular-season games of the season.
