USU repeats victory over UVU
In their second game of a doubleheader weekend, USU hockey took on the UVU Wolverines in a thrilling 5–3 victory. These teams faced off earlier this season on Sept. 22 in what ended up a 13–2 route by the Aggies. While USU ended up victorious again, it would be a bit hard-earned this time.
The Aggies led off with the majority of possession and threatened the goal early with three strong attempts on goal by Ethan Tarver, Brogan Young and Trace Farr. The Aggies would come up short though.
It was UVU who struck first at the 14:08 mark after a quick counterattack by the Wolverines. Nathan Morrow found the stick of Logan Hill across the crease for a blindside goal that had been defended well.
Captain Ben Carlson responded for the Aggies at the 9:08 mark by scoring after retrieving his rebound off of a great initial shot and hitting it home.
Jackson Ferry had a great look on the net as he capitalized on a poor pass by UVU. Farr had about a body’s length breakaway but shot the puck too high off of a backhand shot that looked to be covered by UVU Goaltender Landon Coleman.
UVU regained the lead at the 5:56 mark with a long shot from the right boards that found its way under the five-hole of USU Goaltender Kale Samuels and into the back of the net. Wolverine Dawson Scoville earned the goal.
The first period would conclude with an easy tap-in goal from junior forward Dillon Hale. But it was freshman forward Jackson Ferry who found the stick of Hale with a tremendous pass across the face of the goal.
“The message coming out of the locker room was to get pucks on net,” freshman defenseman Josh Girard said. “The shots are there, and if we just keep them coming, then we should have this.”
In the second period, USU recorded over 20 shots of the opponent’s goal and was able to convert on two of them.
At the 5:55 mark, Ferry went end to end and skated the puck past 3 Wolverines and Coleman to make the scoreline 3–2.
UVU had a couple of meaningful attempts on goal but was left scoreless in the period. Samuels was up to the task and kept out the handful of attempts from the net with the help of defense work from Girard and senior defenseman Brendan Woolcott
In the dying embers of the second period, sophomore forward Zach Pires scored right in front of the net after an exceptional team effort from Ferry and Hale who drew three defenders away from a drifting Hale who had an easy shot on net.
The Aggies came out of the locker room with a lot of confidence.
“We just need to get going. We want to get four or more this period.” Girard said, “We will stay on the forecheck and keep up the good pressure.”
Both the Aggies and the Wolverines came out looking to score quickly. But USU had the majority of possession, registering 24 shots on goal, compared to UVU’s 12.
It was UVU’s Easton Eggli who broke through and scored the first goal of the third period. He won a faceoff in their offensive end and dashed the goal with the puck, slotting it past Samuels with 4:03 left to play on the clock.
Just under a minute later, Carlson scored his second goal of the game after picking up a rebound from a shot by junior forward Mason Mulneaux that was saved well by Coleman, but the recycled shot found its way into the back of the net making the scoreline 5–3.
The game ended with some great late-game defensive heroics by Samuels and freshman defenseman Tate Jenson who prevented a shot by Murrow by laying his body on the line to reach the puck with his stick. The horn sounded and USU and UVU shook hands.
“I was quite happy after the first period. The goal was to maintain the scoreline and prevent them from scoring.” USU Coach Rob Girard said., “However they did get a goal, but we got the two goals back.”
Despite UVU being more prepared for this matchup than USU anticipated, the statistics proved to be in the Aggies favor given they produced double the chances on net each period than the Wolverines.
USU’s next home game is slated for Oct. 27 against the Weber State Wildcats.