(Photo: Riley Trujilo/WSCN)
With their season on the line, the Arizona State women’s hockey team beat their in-state rival Grand Canyon University 4-0 to move onto the semifinals of the Western Women’s Collegiate Hockey League playoffs.
In their seventh meeting this season, the Sun Devils will walk away from the 2018-19 season with a 5-2 overall record against the Lopes.
The Sun Devils sported discipline throughout the game, only giving up two penalties when previously their games against GCU tended to be penalty filled.
“Obviously you can win a game, but not letting them score, you can score as many goals as you want, but you can’t let them score any goals,” said ASU head coach Lidnsey Ellis. “We made sure to play defense first especially on special teams.”
In the first period the Sun Devils came out slow, but that didn’t stop them from creating chances to get on the scoreboard first.
Sophomore forward Catherine Jones had early opportunities to score in the first including two, two on one chances that she was unable to capitalize on.
However, Jones along with the rest of the squad, came in full throttle for the second period ready to break the 0-0 tie.
Less than two minutes into the period with the Lopes on their heels, Aubrey Beskid took a shot from the point and Jones redirecting the shot on net with her stick allowing it to squeeze by GCU goaltender Haylee Gannaway.
“After that goal it showed that we just needed to keep going and going because if we score first it feels like we can keep going and do it,” said Jones.
After Jones’ goal the Lopes pushed hard in the zone, but junior goaltender Jordan Nash-Boulden kept GCU scoreless.
“It was good to give Jordan the shutout because she needed it,” said Jones. “It hypes her up and she’s been perfect this weekend.”
Nash-Boulden’s senior defenseman KC McGinley did not hold back as her collegiate hockey career is coming to a close. McGinley squared up on the point and took a slap shot that went through Gannaway giving the Devils a 2-0 lead.
McGinley wasn’t done giving her family and friends a show as she replicated her first goal, coming from the point once again to extend the lead.
“It felt really good,” said McGinley. “My teammates have been telling me I’m going to score for this whole semester now and in my head that’s not what it’s about, but it did feel really good to help my team on the scoreboard not just on the ice.”
“Her shot, she wanted it so much and we were hoping for that hat trick,” said Ellis. “She worked through all of it and it’s so exciting for everyone, we are so happy for her.”
Freshman forward Sheridan Gloyd took advantage of a sloppy pass by GCU in the neutral zone and headed into the offensive zone. Gloyd beat the defenseman on the outside before shooting the puck which hit the post and then off the back of Gannaway into the net.
The Sun Devils closed out the final ten minutes of the game ending with a total of 32 shots on net, the most on the weekend.
ASU will play in the semifinal game against Midland Unviersity, another familiar opponent, Saturday, February 23 at 11 p.m. MST at City National Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
