Icecats fall again at Nationals

Tanith L. Balaban Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman Icecat right-wing Marc Harris (18) skates up the ice against ASU earlier this season. Harris scored two goals against Iowa State last night at Nationals, but the Icecats still lost 8-4.

And once again, they couldn't climb out.

Host team and fourth-seeded Iowa State jumped out to a 5-1 lead on eighth-seeded Arizona yesterday night and never looked back, winning 8-4.

It was the second loss for Arizona at the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament, ending any chance for the Icecats to play tomorrow in either the consolation or championship games.

Arizona was outshot 21-7 in the first period.

Sophomore goalie Mike Tesi, who was pulled from Wednesday's 10-3 loss to Penn State, stayed in the entire game this time, saving 41 of the 49 shots he faced.

The Icecats could only manage 24 shots in response.

Arizona mounted a slight comeback in the second period, pulling to within 6-3, but they would get no closer.

Still, Icecat head coach Leo Golembiewski was pleased by his team's effort.

"With such a young team we humbled Iowa State," he said. "Our kids showed tremendous heart. The defense played their hearts out and the offense did, too."

Arizona has 15 freshmen on the roster, including four of the top five scorers on the team.

Senior center Ben Ruston, who was slowed by a deep thigh bruise in the Icecats' first game, scored one of the four goals on the night.

Freshman right-wing Marc Harris added two goals and freshman defenseman Kevin Baskel scored once.

While Iowa State, now 1-0-1 in the tournament, goes on to face top-seeded Penn State (2-0) for the right to advance to Saturday's championship, the Icecats conclude their season today at noon against fifth-seeded Eastern Michigan.

The Icecats and Eagles split a two-game series in Tucson on Jan. 9 and 10.