‘A step in the right direction’: Aggies defeat Buffaloes 5-2

LOGAN – The game was over 11 minutes before Dylan Harbour scored on an open net with 38 seconds left, but the goal did act as an official boot out of the door for the University of Colorado Buffaloes.  

Utah State University finished up a triple threat barrage out of the Rockies on Saturday night with a dominating 5-2 victory. The Aggies went 2-1 over the weekend, improving their overall record to 17-14.  

Goals were scored by Harbour, Trace Farr, Brogan Young, Sean Johnston, and Ben Tschida. 

During the first intermission, the message was a simple one.  

“We need to play a full 60 minutes,” Jackson Ferry said. “We want to end the weekend on a good note.”  

Utah State has had a tough time in recent play putting together a full game, the recent losses against New Hampshire as examples of this. The Aggies put together a good period of play in each game against New Hampshire, showing promise but a lack of confidence. Echoes of the month off were still showing with difficulties scoring and passing.  

Though they lost one game this weekend, the Aggies finally put together a dominant and entertaining 60 minutes on Saturday night. 

The play had been blown dead, but tensions blazed as Tschida and Nickita Alexeyev dropped gloves only 10 minutes into the game. The event sent both players to the penalty box, and the crowd responded with elation to see the Aggies playing so physically. 

Farr opened the scoreline for the Aggies at the 6:14 mark of the first period. He took advantage of a rebound after a shot by Zach Pires was blocked by a Buffalo skater. Farr found himself in a good position and redirected the puck past Colorado goaltender Abi Seigel. 

“It was a little bit of a floater, but it went in,” Farr said. “It was a good one.” 

The Aggies held the one goal lead going into the first intermission.  

“We wanted to come out and play more physically and set the tone,” Ferry said. “And I think we have done that so far.” 

 The floodgates opened in the second period as Johnston and Young scored to give the Aggies a three-goal lead.  

“It felt good. I’ve been slacking lately,” Johnston said. “It got the monkey off my back.” 

Colorado’s Connor Smithburger would score just before the end of the second period after recovering a loose puck and directing a shot past Utah State goaltender Isaac Rice. 

The Aggies came out with heavy pressure in the third period. Pires accounted for four shots in the first five minutes; Farr, Young and Carlson would also take multiple shots, but none found the back of the net.  

Smithburger was not done, as he scored his second of the night at the 13:42 mark of the third period. The goal came immediately after a faceoff in the Buffaloes’ offensive zone.  

Tschida and Pires responded a minute later for the Aggies’ fourth goal, sealing the victory. Pires won the puck and space in the offensive zone, then connected a perfect pass across the crease to Tschida, who simply tapped the puck into the back of the net.  

“It felt good, it was a good pass to Tschida,” Pires said about his birthday assist. 

Tate Jenson went out with an apparent injury at the 7:01 mark. He did not return. 

The injury to Jenson is a loss for the Aggies as the defensive line has been seriously hit as a result. 

There is hope on the horizon, though, as senior defenseman Brendan Woolcott is set to return from injury in time for the Mountain West Collegiate Hockey League tournament in two weeks.  

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Carlson said. “We are battling some injuries now, and we still have a few left to go.” 

Utah State will hit the road on Feb. 2 to take on the University of Utah.