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Icecats split final series vs. ASU

Kyle Neary thought he had saved the day.

With the Icecats trailing 4-3 on Friday with a minute remaining, the sophomore right wing broke through the IceDevil defense and went one-on-one with ASU goalie Dan Woog, flicking the puck past his stick hand to tie the score.

Just as the celebration began, the IceDevils (16-8-3) responded 15 seconds later, as freshman Ian Smith scored on sophomore goalie Jason Morgan, giving the ASU the lead for good.

"In one word, it sucked," Neary said. "After I scored, we were pumped to go to overtime, and that just killed us."

An empty net ASU goal put the final score at 6-4.

But Saturday was a different story.

In the last home game for seniors Tommy Thompson, Joe McCaffrey, Hunter Cherenack and Mark Meister, the team came away with a 6-4 victory.

The Icecats never trailed, taking the lead on two quick goals before the IceDevils tied the score at two apiece.

The seniors got into the act in their final game, with a goal from Thompson early in the third period, before two power plays goals allowed ASU to close the gap. Cherenack also scored midway through the second period.

The loss was the first of the season at home for Arizona (21-2-2), ending an 11-game unbeaten streak against ASU.

The loss was also Morgan's first of the season, putting his record at 11-1-1.

"When we tied the game with 1:05 left, I thought that showed the tenacity and the will to win of the team," UA head coach Leo Golembiewski said. "But you have to have will for sixty minutes, not twenty."

Next up for the Icecats is two weeks of rest before traveling to Minot, N.D., for the American Collegiate Hockey Association tournament.