San Diego State University Hockey lost their home opener 3-1 in their introduction to ACHA Division 1 play.
The game featured a feeling-out period to start, where chances were fairly equal and both teams saw shots glance off the post.
“I think we played most of the first period on adrenaline,” said head coach Phillip Bateman. “We were hyped up with a lot of nervous energy. I think we fell of the sugar rush, in the second period. We fell flat.”
The Aztecs would go down by two in that second period, which featured more noise, post-whistle scrums, and penalties than the first.
On their heels, the Aztecs were able to regain their footing in the third. Sophomore Luke Desmarais’ goal, the team’s first-ever tally in ACHA Division 1, brought SDSU within one.
Late in the third, a shot off the rush beat goaltender Parks Owensby and ended the Aztecs’ comeback bid.
The head coach was proud of his team’s fight in their introduction to the ACHA’s top-flight. He expects the Aztecs to improve as they adjust to the higher level of competition.
“We know we can do better because that was far from our best…. as we start to play these high-end opponents, we’re gonna be forced to do everything a half-step faster.”
The team will have a chance at redemption tomorrow, taking on the University of Colorado Boulder in the second game of the back-to-back.