Hockey runs by BYU for victory
USU hockey defeated BYU by a score of 7-2 Friday night to improve its record to 16-14-1.
The win was in front of a full house at the George S. Eccles Ice Center in North Logan.
From the opening drop of the puck, the visiting Cougars were visibly determined to set a fast-paced tempo, a strategy met by aggressiveness on behalf of the Utah State starters. The first goal was scored in 10 minutes by Aggie wingman Jay McFadden with Ryan Osterheldt and William Winsa providing the assists. Chris McGinn also scored in the first period, his first goal of the season.
The same line of McFadden, Osterheldt, and Winsa connected again for the Aggies’ third goal in the early second period.
BYU quickly responded by setting up a goal only fifteen second later which was scored by Cougar all-purpose man Derek Battisti. The Aggies, despite being penalized seven times by the middle of the second period-compared to only one BYU penalty-did a good job of defending against the power play. That is, until forward Brandon Holmes scored a much celebrated power play goal that cut the Aggie lead to 3-2.
The competitiveness grew as the contest continued, BYU betting mostly on their speed and high volume of shots as the Aggies relied on teamwork and physical play. The atmosphere at the Ice Center was loud and exciting as delightful cheers erupted from the bleachers with each sight of a BYU player being checked into a wall and knocked onto the ice.
Aggie defender Scotty John said he had mixed feelings about playing BYU.
“I’ll tell ya, they’re good,” he said after the game. “Every player goes 100 percent, and they’re all quality guys.”
“In a way I’m glad they’re tough games,” John added. “They’re fun, and it brings out the fans.”
John scored the Aggies’ fourth goal of the game, his seventh on the season, with one second remaining in the second period.
The third period was marked by more loud smashes (notably by Brenden MacDonald and McKenzie York) and three more scores by USU, all coming in the final five minutes.
McGinn scored his second goal off a mid-air deflection in front the net. Then Winsa earned a short-handed goal with a steal at center ice. Utah State’s points leader Kent Arsenault was last to score with a powerful slap shot in the final moments. Aggie goaltender Greg Finatti played the entire 60 minutes and saved 47 out of 49 shots.
The match-up was the last of six meetings between the two teams this regular season, USU now having won four times. Next up, the Aggies host the University of Utah Feb. 15.
-m.b.a@aggiemail.usu.edu