ASU Hockey: Sun Devils snap losing skid with 8-2 victory over ACHA Ohio

After being losers of their last 13 games, the Arizona State Sun Devils were in need of a huge win as they returned back to Oceanside to host ACHA opponent Ohio for a two-game series.

And they got just what the doctor ordered.

A heavy dose of scoring paved the way, as the Sun Devils cruised to a blowout victory over the Bobcats 8-2 Friday night.

"You know, I mean other than the score, I honestly feel like it was an un-just win," said ASU coach Greg Powers. "I thought Ohio out-worked us. I thought they deserved a little bit better of a fate than what they got. I don't wanna be too negative and complain too much about an 8-2 win. It just didn't feel like we earned an 8-2 win. We lost puck races. We lost puck battles. It was just not as sharp as we wanted to be tonight. The good news is that we got another one tomorrow."

It was a sloppy start to the first period for the Sun Devils, as they allowed an Ohio goal off of a faceoff. Bobcats defenseman Jake Faiella took the won draw and shot one right past Robert Levin, giving the Bobcats the early lead.

Rough breakouts, missed passes and not generating enough offense plagued the Sun Devils until the first media timeout. After that, they kicked it into gear. Shift after shift, the Sun Devils were holding the puck in the Ohio end, getting quality chance after quality chance.

Cody Gylling was the first to put the puck in the back of the net, being in the front of the net for a juicy rebound.

Just wake up, get going was the message to the team during the media timeout, Powers said.

"They came out, and the kid made a good shot," Powers said. "I think it kind of woke them up a little bit. Tomorrow they're going to have to be ready to play because Ohio's going to come at us, they're going to give us everything they have."

That wouldn't be the only goal of the period, as Liam Norris and Joe Lappin joined in, adding goals of their own giving the Sun Devils a 3-1 lead after twenty minutes.

In the second period, the Sun Devils started with a power-play and they received an added bonus, a 5-on-3 opportunity. It didn't take long for ASU to cash in on this golden chance, as Jordan Masters found Edward McGovern who fired one into the net. The power play was an emphasis this week in practice and this goal looked very similar to what the team worked on during the week.

From there the Sun Devils would add another goal after Drew Newmeyer, the new and lone captain for the Sun Devils, worked the puck behind the net and found a wide-open Jack Rowe, with the whole net open.

Ohio and Arizona State traded a series of goals in a matter of thirty seconds, with the Sun Devils scoring then Ohio answering only to be answered by an Anthony Croston goal, putting the Sun Devils up 7-2 at the end of the second period.

The third period only saw one goal, scored by ASU's Liam McGing.

It was a solid much needed effort from the Sun Devils, a team that hadn't scored a goal in their last four contests.

The Sun Devils get to do it all again Saturday, as they will take on the Bobcats in the final game of their two game exhibition.