TEMPE, Ariz. – Junior Wade Murphy recorded a goal and an assist to lead the Arizona State University men’s hockey team to a 5-3 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Friday night at Oceanside Ice Arena. With the win, the Sun Devils improve to 3-11-0, while the Engineers drop to 2-12-1.
Murphy (Victoria, BC/University of North Dakota) broke a 3-3 tie at 6:55 of the third period, burying a one-time feed from freshman Tyler Busch (Lloydminster, AB/Spruce Grove Saints).
Graduate student Robbis Baillargeon (Enfield, CT/Boston University) then gave the hosts a two-goal edge (5-3) at 9:15, capitalizing on a 3-on-1 rush into the offensive zone. Murphy found sophomore Jordan Masters (Rochester, NY/West Kelowna Warriors), who snapped a pass across the goal mouth for Baillargeon, who netted his seventh of the year.
RPI freshman Patrick Polino (Buffalo, NY/Lincoln Stars) scored the game’s first goal at 8:18 of the first period, when a shot from the blue line by junior Jared Wilson (Calgary, AB/Vernon Vipers) caromed off his body and past ASU sophomore Ryland Pashovitz (Saskatoon, SK/Des Moines Buccaneers). Engineers sophomore Evan Tironese (Qualicum Beach, BC/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) picked up the secondary assist.
The Sun Devils drew even (1-1) at 13:36 of the first on freshman Brinson Pasichnuk’s (Bonnyville, AB/Bonnyville Pontiacs) fourth goal of season. The blueliner jumped into the attack and buried a one-timer on a cross-ice pass from Busch.
Sophomore Brady Wiffen (St. Mary’s, ON/Trenton Golden Hawks) gave RPI a 2-1 lead at 14:48 of the first, redirecting a shot by Tironese under the crossbar for his second goal of the year. Freshman Charlie Manley (Buffalo, NY/Estevan Blues) kept the play alive at the left point and earned the second assist.
ASU sophomore Nicholas Gushue (West Vancouver, BC/Nanaimo Clippers) knotted score at 2-2 with his third goal of the season at 9:48 of the second. Junior David Norris (Calgary, AB/American International) had the lone helper.
Sophomore David Hollman (Red Deer, AB/UMass-Lowell) gave the Sun Devils their first lead of the game at 12:51, firing over the left shoulder of RPI sophomore goaltender Chase Perry (Andover, MN/Wenatchee Wild) for his second goal of the year.
Rensselaer freshman Jacob Hayhurst (Missassauga, ON/Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) evened the score at 3-3 with 2:06 to play in the second, steering a shot from junior Lou Nanne (Edina, MN/Sioux Falls Stampede) inside the right post. Junior Drew Melanson (Paramus, NJ/Waterloo Black Hawks) earned the second assist on Hayhurst’s second goal of the season.
Pashovitz (1-2-0) finished with 23 saves, while Perry had 30, including 12 in the first period. RPI went 1 for 2 on the power play, while the Sun Devils finished 1 for 3.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow night for game two of the series (5pm).
