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How Sweep it is: Magic Mastrosimone Nets Overtime Game-Winner

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TEMPE – Robert Mastrosimone’s magic touch graced Mullett Arena in yet another clutch moment on Saturday night as he netted the game-winning goal just 37 seconds into overtime, to lift the Sun Devils to a 4-3 victory over St. Thomas. The Tommies (7-17-2) suffered at the hands of Arizona State captain Josh Doan who popped off in a demanding three-point night to help push Sun Devil Hockey (13-16-0) to a series sweep. 

Get ready for this mouthful of stats – Mastrosimone leads the team in game-winning goals this season with three. Two of those were scored in overtime, one tonight, and most memorably, in overtime against then-No. 2 Minnesota (the highest ranked win in program history). The senior forward’s third game-winning goal was against then-No. 6 North Dakota in Las Vegas. Each game-winning goal happened on a Saturday night while wearing the adidas “Vegas” jerseys. What can we say? The hockey gods are all in. 

The sweep over St. Thomas is ASU’s first since since defeating Alaska Anchorage in November and the second sweep over the Tommies in two consecutive years. ASU has scored at least four goals in every game against St. Thomas.

Doan secured his first three-point night (1G, 2A) since Oct. 8, 2022, and his 16th multi-point game of his collegiate career. He also added a goal to his stat line which was his first since Dec. 31 in the win over Boston College. The Scottsdale native successfully converted a rare penalty shot, the first achieved in Mullett Arena history and the first for the Sun Devils since Feb. 4. 2022.

Continuing his success on the front line, freshman forward Ryan Alexander secured his third goal of the calendar year, his second in the last three games and his third-straight game with a point. 

Similar to last year, junior forward Benji Eckerle scored against St. Thomas, his second of the season but all important as it equalized the game late in the third period. Defensemen Jacob Semik registered his third-straight game with an assist to contribute to Eckerle’s goal.

Ben Kraws started between the pipes, earning a season-high 22 saves in two periods. Sophomore goaltender TJ Semptimphelter entered in the third period and registered 11 saves to battle St. Thomas.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

First Period:

Unlike last night, St. Thomas landed on the board first at 4:28 in the opening frame. 

No more than five minutes later the freshman forward Ryan Alexander equalized the game to one-all with his eighth goal of the year and his second in the last three games. Scottsdale native Josh Doan was credited with his 14th assist of the season, his third in the last four games. 

St. Thomas responded just one minute and 18 seconds later to regain the lead, 2-1.

Second Period:

The Sun Devils enjoyed their second power play of the night four minutes into the period. ASU generated five shots on net but could not find the back of net.

Around the halfway point, the Sun Devils had a breakaway opportunity until a St. Thomas player attempted to halt the momentum, pushing several players, and the puck, into the net. The goal underwent video review and was disallowed due to goalie interference. On the same play, St. Thomas was called for tripping Josh Doan, who was awarded a penalty shot at 10:13 in the second. The hometown kid succeeded in scoring the first penalty shot in Mullett Arena history to even the game at 2-2. 

Inside the final two minutes of the middle frame, the Tommies had their own breakaway chance and were awarded with a penalty shot of their own after an ASU tripping penalty. St. Thomas was successful to take the 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission.

Third Period:

TJ Semptimphelter returned for the Sun Devils and was immediately put to the test as St. Thomas went on the power play just 90 seconds into play. ASU killed off the opportunity to stay perfect on the night. 

ASU returned to the power play for the fourth time of the night after a Tommie slashed Mastrosimone. The Sun Devils fired six shots on net but were unable to find the game-tying goal as it remained 3-2 in St. Thomas’s favor.

Around eight minutes remained in the game and after a shot rebounded off of the Tommies goalie into the air, Doan smacked in the goal that supposedly tied the game up. After the play ended, St. Thomas challenged the goal and it was eventually overturned for a high stick to keep St. Thomas in the lead.

Inside the final five minutes with ASU on the attack, junior forward Benji Eckerle found the puck off a rebound and slotted his second goal of the season to tie the game, 3-3. Graduate Chris Grando was credited with his fourth assist of the year along with senior Jacob Semik adding his sixth assist this season.

With both sides trading possession, the Sun Devils headed into overtime for the fifth time this season to play five minutes of 3-on-3 hockey.

Overtime:

In the all-anticipated 3-on-3 overtime, Mastrosimone, Doan, and Demetrios Koumontzis took the ice. Just 37-seconds into sudden death, Mastrosimone went nearly coast-to-coast, juking a Tommie defender and putting home the game-winner. The game marked the second overtime victory this season for ASU, both at the Mullett.

QUOTES:

Arizona State Head Coach Greg Powers:

On keeping the guys going with things being called back: 

“You felt like a lot of things were working against us. A couple of goals called off, I didn’t think the one in the second should’ve been called off. Ducky got pushed into the goalie, we ended up scoring on a penalty shot and then the one in the third, Doaner, I think highsticked. I think it was the right call but it felt like some magic was working against us tonight. I don’t know what the call on Mastrosimone was, he went in almost backwards and I don’t understand it. We got through it and I’m proud of the guys. It was a really good team win and we haven’t won like that where we were kind of sinking and we found ways to win. So it’s a big step, people forget how young this team is. It’s one of the youngest teams in college hockey, so a big step for a young team.”


On two penalty shots in one period: 
“No, I haven’t. It was pretty crazy and good for Josh Doan, Doan’s really been gripping it to score and I didn’t have a doubt in my mind who I was going to pick. He’s a kid that’s gonna lead us for a while and is doing a great job. I was happy for him, he had a breakout night. He had two assists and hopefully he doesn’t look back.”

Arizona State Senior Forward Robert Mastrosimone:

On how big this win is: 

“This win is really big. Obviously, after the last couple of weeks we have been in a bit of a slump here, so getting back here and getting a sweep, feeling the energy again in this place. It will help propel us into next weekend.”

Arizona State Sophomore Forward Josh Doan:

On penalty shot: 

“It’s a tough play that got waved off first and taken away from Mastrosimone there. It’s something that they put confidence in us with that move. It’s a move that I’ve done since I was a kid. When you’ve got pressure and you just have to fall back to where you’re used to and what you are comfortable with.”

On mindset going into Fairbanks: 

“We played them last year at the end of the year and we were ahead of them and they took it to us at the end of our season. It is something that a lot of guys aren’t taking very lightly in our locker room right now. They are a good team and we will have to bring out A game. But hopefully we can feed off this and feed off the confidence of a big comeback win like this and our performance from Friday night and carry that into next weekend.”

 





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