Cliche scores only NMU goal
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The NMU hockey team welcomed the (RV) Arizona State Sun Devils to the Berry Event Center for the first time in program history, falling 3-1 empty-net.
A tightly-checked back-and-forth game, the teams skated 1-1 until three minutes remained in the third when the Sun Devils eventually broke the tie.
When asked about his overall thoughts on the game, head coach Dave Shyiak said that he gives his group a lot of credit for how they performed tonight.
“I talked to our group and I don’t want them to sag their heads. [Arizona State] is a good skating team, they were starving to get a win, and they’ve got 10 or 11 seniors that have played a lot of college games. But when push came to shove, our guys showed urgency; we had to kill that five-minute major, which is tough to do against a skilled team, and it was 1-1 in our building… we were right there, I thought the game was there to be won tonight, and I liked a lot of what we did tonight.”
Anthony Cliche scored his second goal in as many games from the blue line, tying the game at that point, with assists from Tynan Ewart and Danny Ciccarello. With that assist, Danny picked up his first career Wildcat point.
Ryan Ouellette was spectacular once again between the pipes, making multiple cross-crease saves and even sprawling back to pull the puck from the goal line to keep the ‘Cats in the game. Ouellette made 37 saves for a .949 SV% on the evening.
The ‘Cats continued to be terrific on the penalty kill, going 2/2 on the night which included killing an entire five-minute major in the middle frame. The ‘Cats were only awarded one power play opportunity on the night.
NMU now looks to continue its play into tomorrow night, with puck-drop slated for 6:07 PM from the Berry Events Center.
Dave Shyiak Postgame – 10/25/24
Highlights
Cat Nips
- Both Tynan Ewart (1-2–3) extended his point streak to three games
- Anthony Cliche (2-0–2) now has goals in back-to-back games
- Danny Ciccarello earned his first career Wildcat point
- Trevor Mitchell skated in his first career game
- The Wildcats are now 14/15 on the PK this season
How It Happened
Ryan Ouellette was on his game early, as Bennett Schimek streaked in on a breakaway just five minutes into the game. Schimek went low to the glove hand, but Ouellette was up to the task.
Arizona State struck first, as leading Sun Devil goal-scorer Schimek was able to finish off a back-door feed from ex-Bemidji State Beaver Lukas Sillinger.
The ‘Cats responded well after the goal, driving play and winning puck battles. Danny Ciccarello won a battle on the boards and chipped the puck to Tynan Ewart who slid it across the point to Anthony Cliche. Cliche let one go from the point that fooled the netminder Pavicich, and the score was even heading into the middle frame.
Ryan Ouellette came up big once again, as a shot hit the post and ricocheted off the back of Ouellette, trickling towards the goal line. Ryan spun around and dove backward to smother the puck with his glove on the goal line.
The Wildcats were whistled for a minor and a five-minute major in the second period, successfully killing off both to head to the dressing room at 1-1.
Arizona State broke the tie with three minutes to go in the game, as a pass went from behind the goal line and through the slot to Ryan Kirwan wide open on the back door. Ouellette made the initial post-to-post save, but Kirwan picked up his own rebound, and Ouellette had no chance.
Benji Eckerle scored on the empty net to seal the game at 3-1 with 11 seconds left.
