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ASU Hockey: Sun Devils fall to Yale in OT despite big performance from Daccord

By Ethan Schmidt

TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky performs on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky performs on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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Goaltender Joey Daccord tallied 43 saves Friday night as ASU hockey fell to Yale 3-2 in overtime in the first game of a two-game series.

ASU hockey began its first road series out of three to end the regular season Friday night. In a penalty-filled battle, the Sun Devils came up just short in overtime against Yale at Ingalls Rink in New Haven, Conn.

Sophomore goaltender Joey Daccord had a monstrous game with 43 saves, but ASU (7-17-5) was unable to maintain a lead due to two turnovers in the defensive zone in regulation that allowed Yale to get back into the game and eventually win 3-2 in OT.

“I thought we battled pretty hard there in the last two periods,” ASU coach Greg Powers said to Sun Devil Athletics. “Daccord was awesome. He gave us a chance to win tonight and that’s all you can ask. We had some great chances, and I thought the last two periods were pretty evenly played. Daccord got us out of the first period, and we gift-wrapped them three goals. We have to manage the puck better.”

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The Sun Devils found themselves in yet another contest with the officials as both ASU and Yale combined for 19 infractions for 46 minutes, and 14 power plays occurred. The Sun Devils’ 20th-ranked penalty kill stepped up and kept the Bulldogs off the board eight times.

“The flow of the game wasn’t ideal,” Powers said. “There were so many penalties. But it is what it is, we got out of them. The kill was really good.”

ASU found the back of the net first in early on the first period. Sophomore forward Steenn Pasichnuk pushed a 2-on-1 rush and made a feed to Jake Clifford who did the rest and put the puck past Yale goaltender Sam Tucker.

Shot totals were 24-4 in favor of Yale after the first period, but the Sun Devils managed to take a 1-0 lead into the second with no harm done.

However, Yale junior forward JM Piotrowski forced a turnover midway through the second period. ASU defenseman Jakob Stridsberg sent a pass up ice and Piotrowski pounced on it and buried a goal.

ASU got the next one late in the second period. Freshman forward Dominic Garcia scored his second goal of the season off a zesty pass form assistant captain Anthony Croston. The Sun Devils held a 2-1 lead going into the third.

Another turnover by ASU allowed Yale to tie the game early in the third period. Senior forward Ryan Hitchcock found himself on a breakaway and beat Daccord to equalize at two.

Next: ASU Hockey: Sun Devils look to rebound in upcoming Yale series

In overtime, ASU sophomore forward Brett Gruber hit the post with a shot. Yale then broke out on a 2-on-1 rush moments later and the Bulldogs leading goal scorer Joe Snively sniped the puck past Daccord for the game-winner. ASU and Yale will face off for the second game of the series on Saturday night at 4 p.m. MT.