SAN ANTONIO — UTSA hockey could not hold off Texas Tech University in its season opener, losing 2-1 in a shootout on Friday at the Ice & Golf Center at Northwoods. After a tumultuous overtime period, the game moved into a showdown. Red Raiders winger Connor Neal sent the puck to the back-corner net, sealing the ‘Runner’s fate.
During the first period, UTSA desperately passed the puck to each other in hopes of connecting with the net, leading to several turnovers and priming Texas Tech to score. However, PhD-candidate goalie Joe Spracklen’s reflexes were quick enough to thwart any attempts.
With seven minutes remaining in the first period, Red Raiders winger Kyler Plante, smacked freshman defenseman Justin Trevino on the head with a hockey stick, sending Plante to the penalty box. Despite being in the power play, the Roadrunners failed to capitalize on the player imbalance. The rest of the period remained scoreless, but aggression only increased as the clock wound down.
“[We] didn’t keep our heads right,” head coach Zac Swank commented on how the team faltered after the second period. “That’s what went wrong today.”
After a couple of shots on goal in the second period, UTSA managed to get on the scoreboard when Travis Sorce split the defense and shot from the near corner of the goal.
The Red Raiders responded in the third period when winger Theoren Markusson weaved the puck past Spracklen into the net. With the game tied and 13 minutes remaining, tensions began to rise.
The Red Raiders finished the ‘Runners off when Neal slammed the biscuit right into the back corner of the net.
“We decided to play selfish hockey and let our emotions get the best of us,” Swank said regarding the destructive third period. “Top guys were getting kicked out unfortunately. We should’ve won that game — 100%. We should’ve won that game, just our heads kept us out of it.
“So that’s tomorrow’s game plan. Stick to what we did today. Build on that, but make it a complete 60-minute game, and keep our heads right,” Swank concluded.
UTSA will next face Texas Tech University at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Northwoods Ice & Golf Center.
