Dec. 1, 2012
VIDEO: Postgame Comments | Box Score
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Freshman forward Curtis Loik (North Vancouver, B.C.) scored a shorthanded marker in the third period, but the Penn State men's hockey team fell to Arizona State, 3-1, in an exhibition at Greenberg Ice Pavilion Saturday evening.
The Sun Devils skated to a 2-0 advantage before Loik's shorthanded tally cut the lead with 13:32 left in the third period. Arizona State responded later in the frame to account for the 3-1 final.
Penn State outshot the Sun Devils by a 37-30 margin and went 0-for-5 on the power play. Arizona State finished 0-for-3 with the man advantage. Sophomore goaltender PJ Musico (Orange, Calif.) turned aside 27 shots, while Arizona State netminder Joe D'Elia made 36 saves.
After a scoreless first frame, Faiz Khan gave the Sun Devils a 1-0 second-period lead. While on a 2-on-1 rush, Dan Styrna's pass found Khan in the left circle, where he scored 38 seconds into the stanza.
Kale Dolinski doubled the Sun Devil lead at 2:40 of the third period after capitalizing on a Penn State miscue. Loik tallied less than four minutes later. Sophomore forward Tommy Olczyk (Long Grove, Ill.) picked up the loose puck and passed to Loik near the crease, where he slid the puck past D'Elia. Junior defenseman Nate Jensen (Shorewood, Minn.) garnered an assist on the play.
With 6:25 left in the game, Dolinski tallied for the second time. Following a neutral zone turnover, Dolinski carried the puck down the ice before scoring an unassisted tally.
The Nittany Lions will return to action Friday, Dec. 7 when they travel to Worcester, Mass., for the beginning of a two-game series against Holy Cross. Opening faceoff is set at 7:05 p.m.