Ags nearly take down Spartans
Two power-play goals in the final two minutes allowed San Jose State – the No. 1 team in the region – to escape Cache Valley with a 4-3 win over the Utah State hockey club Friday.
The Aggies led the game 3-2 until 3:20 to play in the third period when the Spartans scored their first of two goals with a man advantage in a span of 47 seconds.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Jerry Crossley said he felt USU had given its best effort.
“It is a loss, but it’s also the best game we’ve played all season,” he said. “I think the guys now see what their capable of. [SJSU] may be the best team in the region.”
The Spartans took a 2-0 lead with them into the first intermission, but the Aggies responded with three consecutive goals – two of which coming from Mike Walker – to take the lead.
“Everyone knew we were coming back,” Aggie Jordan Francom said. “When Walker scored his first goal, we knew the floodgates would open.”
USU switched up its lines again for this game. Roberto Hashimoto was playing with William Winsa and Mikel Roy and Walker was playing with Roberto Leo and Parker Richards.
“We’ve been working on good lines,” he said. “We finally found them. I love playing with Berto [Leo].”
Crossley said the team still needs to score more in order to win.
“The team is carrying this comprehension that we can’t score,” he said. “We’ve got to shake that.”
Francom said he knew the team would be ready for this game.
“As soon as we showed up to the rink, we knew this would be our best game,” he said. “We know we still lost, but this was the biggest step forward for us.”
The game was about as even as it could get. USU out-shot SJSU 27-24, had only two more penalty minutes and both teams scored two power-play goals.
Utah State 9, UVSC 1
Seven different Aggies found the back of the net as USU used its momentum from its game against SJSU to blow out the UVSC Wolverines 9-1 Saturday.
Aaron Shimmell and Roberto Leo were the only Aggies to score two goals.
“It was a good time,” Aggie Josh Groves said. “I’m glad we brought it tonight.”
Dane Jorgeson made his first career start for USU and saved nine of the 10 shots taken on him.
“I’m glad to get it out of the way,” he said. “I was a little nervous, but I won’t be as nervous the next time.”
He said even though he played on the same ice in high school, it was a completely different experience playing for the Aggies.
“It gets you pumped up,” he said. “You can bounce back so much after mistakes. Before, I was playing in front of a crowd of parents.”
Jorgeson said he does not know when his next start will be.
“I’m the youngest guy on the team, so I understand,” he said. “I’ll probably start against UVSC again.”
USU had 76 shots on goal against the Wolverines.
“We’re looking at the net more,” Groves said. “We’re taking better shots and harder shots.”
Groves, who did not score but had three assists over the weekend, made many big plays both offensively and defensively for the Aggies.
“That’s just my game,” he said. “I don’t have the skills the other players do so I just skate fast and try to crash into someone.”
Groves said the two games last weekend have reinvented the team.
“This is a good turning point,” he said. “We have to take it into next week.”
The first official rankings of the season were released by the American Collegiate Hockey Association on Saturday. USU ranks No. 10.
“We’re not really that concerned,” Crossley said. “We just need to win games and do it consistently. It’s early in the season still.”
Crossley said this first ranking will not mean anything at the end of the season.
“I would hate to be on the ranking committee this season,” he said. “The West is a jumbled mess.”
-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu
Aggie Mikel Roy slides past San Jose State’s Andy Whiteside and Sean Scarborough during Friday’s game.