#7 UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA (M1) 5, #8 ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY (M1) 4 (OT)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Norman, Okla. (1/11/10) – On Monday night, the eighth-ranked Arizona State University Sun Devils returned to Blazers Ice Centre in Oklahoma to take on the seventh-ranked University of Oklahoma Sooners. Although the Sun Devils fought hard and held a two-goal lead after two periods, the Sooners would rally back with three goals in the third period before capping the comeback with the game-winner in overtime for a 5-4 victory over the Devils.

After surrendering a goal 16 seconds into the game Sunday night, the Sun Devils came out with a better first-period showing. Opportunities were limited for both squads as each just managed five shots in the opening frame. With less than eight minutes to play in the period, Dan Baker, one of the new faces for Arizona State in the second half, got the Sun Devils on the board first. Late in the period, Shawn Hayden would even the score for the Sooners. The two teams would enter the locker rooms tied 1-1 heading into the second.

In the second period, both teams would have plenty of chances to take the lead as power play chances came often. Neither squad would be able to convert a man advantage situation into a goal, however. Late in the period, Paul Scola would score to put the Sun Devils back on top, 2-1. Joe Schweiger would also add a goal with less than two minutes left to boost the Arizona State lead to 3-1. The Devils would go into the intermission up by two goals, but also down by two men as Oklahoma would start the final frame with a five-on-three power play.

The Oklahoma power play proved to be very costly for the Sun Devils at the start of the third. Jesse Bryant would score just 43 seconds into the period on the two-man advantage to pull Oklahoma to within one. On the ensuing five-on-four power play, Jarrod Yost would get the equalizer to make it a 3-3 game just past the one-minute mark of the stanza. Midway through the period, Arizona State would face a tough penalty kill as Mike Granato received a five-minute major penalty for checking from behind as well as a game misconduct. Arizona State would manage to survive the five-minute disadvantage to keep the game tied. However, Brad McCabe would put Oklahoma on top with a goal with less than five minutes left in the game to give the Sooners a 4-3 lead. Needing a goal, the Sun Devils got a power play chance late and Tim Hurst would convert the chance and tie the game with less than three minutes remaining in regulation.

For just the third time this season, the Sun Devils would go into overtime. Arizona State was 2-0 in games decided beyond regulation, earning shootout wins on November 20 against Iowa State and November 27 against this Oklahoma team. The Sooners would get the last word this time as Augie Hoffmann scored just one minute, 10 seconds into the extra frame to give Oklahoma the victory. For the first time this season, Arizona State has lost two consecutive games. The Sun Devils will attempt to rebound on Wednesday night when they start a two-game series with the 12^th-ranked University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos.

SCORING SUMMARY

Arizona State University – 1 2 1 0 – 4

Overtime: 9, OU, Hoffmann (Bryant), 3:50. Penalties: None.

Shots on goal:

Arizona State University – 5 7 4 0 – 16

University of Oklahoma – 5 8 11 2 – 26

Goalies: ASU, Schacker (26 shots, 21 saves); OU, Pombo (16 shots, 12 saves)