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Northern Michigan Hockey Team Swept In Arizona
 The Northern Michigan University hockey team lost both of its games in Arizona this weekend, losing to Arizona State, 3-2, on Friday night, and 5-1, on Saturday night. The following game recaps, and photos, are courtesy of NMU Sports Information. SATURDAY GAME RECAP TEMPE, Ariz. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team concluded its trip to Arizona, dropping the second contest against the no. 18 Arizona State University Sun Devils by a score of 5-1. Tanner Latsch scored his nation-leading seventh goal of the season, on the power play once again, extending his point streak to four games. Both Artem Shlaine and Josh Zinger recorded assists. The Wildcats continued to take too many penalties and then struggled on the PK, allowing three goals from six attempts, a recipe that doesn't usually lead to good results. The 'Cats came out of the gate buzzing, running the Sun Devils' show with quality looks and great puck possession early. The 'Cats were unable to capitalize on any of its opportunities, as Michael Colella and Jack Perbix both narrowly missed their respective chances, then just like that, it felt as if a switch were flipped and ASU came to play. The second half of the frame was dominated by the Sun Devils, which included two posts hit to the side of goalkeeper Beni Halasz, who was arguably the Wildcats' best player in the first frame, stopping all 13 Sun Devils' shots on target. The Wildcats got its first power play opportunity of the evening with under five minutes to play, but couldn't find a hold of the puck or zone time, coming away without a shot attempt. The Wildcats started the frame on the PK, but ultimately generated more chances than the Sun Devils, as Andre Ghantous was all over the ice wreaking havoc. Tanner Latsch and the NMU power play remained firing on all cylinders, but too many penalties against the 'Cats were the issue in the middle frame, as two of the three ASU goals came from being a man up. The 'Cats didn't do themselves any favors, taking three penalties in the third period, including a five-minute major. The Sun Devils only scored on one of those opportunities, but seconds after the major penalty ended the Sun Devils scored their fourth-straight goal to take a 5-1 lead. The Wildcats now move to 0-3-1 overall, and the Sun Devils move to an unblemished 4-0-0 overall, its best start in program history.  TEMPE, Ariz. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team traveled to Tempe, Arizona, to square off against the Arizona State Sun Devils for just the second time in program history. The Sun Devils would go on to win the contest 3-2, scoring all three of their goals in a three minute span in the second period. Neither team was able to break through with any sort of sustained pressure in the opening 20, as shots were relatively close and both teams killed their respetive infractions. Halasz was tested with 13 shots against, including a break away opportunity that he denied. The flood gates opened in the middle frame, and both teams found the scoreboard. Grant Slukynsky opened the scoring as he was able to bat in a puck for his first collegiate goal. The Sun Devils responded quickly, with not one, but three goals in a span of about three minutes, and the Wildcats were in a hole quickly. The 'Cats earned two power plays as the period wound down and looked extremely dangerous on both attempts, but were unable to cut into the Sun Devil lead. The 'Cats were finally able to convert on a power play opportunity late in the game, but couldn't find a third in the dying minutes. The Wildcats fall to 0-2-1 overall, and the Sun Devils improve to 3-0-0 overall. The first ten minutes were back and forth for the most part, as neither team was able to establish any sort of consistent control. The 'Cats had one powerplay opportunity in this frame, controlled the zone but couldn't generate anything dangerous. The first dangerous chance of the game came from the top line of the 'Cats. Tanner Latsch gathered a loose puck, turned and fired a shot on net that generated a juicy rebound. Artem Shlaine was on the doorstep and got two wacks at it, but Semptimphelter was able to get a pad on both attempts. Moments later, Beni Halasz made his first big save of the game, stopping an ASU forward who was sprung on a breakaway. The forward made his move to the backhand, but Halasz closed the fivehole and kept the game scoreless. The 'Cats skated into the locker room down 8-13 in shots, were unsuccessful on the only power play opportunity, and successfully killed the only penalty. The Wildcats light the lamp first, and Grant Slukynsky was 'Johnny on the Spot'. Michael Mesic fired a puck and corralled his own rebound, he then made a pass to a wide-open Slukynsky who made no mistake in burying his first career collegiate goal. The Sun Devils responded quickly, as a mad scramble landed on the stick of Tim Lovell who was unaccounted for on the back post, equalizing at one-a-piece. About two minutes later, Kyle Smolen scored on an NMU delayed penalty, giving the Sun Devils a one goal lead and a power play. On the ensuing man advantage, the Sun Devils scored as a puck deflected off the skate of Tyler Gratton and into the back of the net. The 'Cats earned back-to-back power play opportunities in the final five minutes of play, but were unable to capitalize on either chances despite generating plenty of dangerous looks. The 'Cats skate into the third down a pair, and were unsuccesful on both of the power play attempts while conceding a power play goal. The 'Cats were whistled twice and were staring in the face of an abbreviated 5-on-3 kill that could have potentially sealed the deal, which they faced head-on and succesfully killed both, keeping the game in reach. The 'Cats earned two power play opportunities late in the frame, and the Wildcats struck on the second opportunity with just over four minutes to go. Tanner Latsch fanned on a one timer then shoveled a puck toward the crease that deflected off a Sun Devil defender and into the net, making it a one goal game. |
