SAN ANTONIO – For the fourth-straight game, UTSA hockey conquered Rice University during this weekend’s sweep at the Ice & Golf Center at Northwoods. After a very close battle, UTSA came out on top with a 6-2 win on Friday and a 9-5 barn burner win on the following day.
Game One
UTSA hockey had a slow start in the first period. No goals were scored as both teams rushed to snatch the biscuit from each other.
After 10 minutes of short-distance saucer passes and battles to obtain the puck, graduate defenseman Jordan Nolan scored the first goal of the night in the second period. Shortly after, Rice scored a goal that made the scoreboard even, until freshman defender Justin Trevino slapshot an insurance goal in the 15th minute. As time ran out, UTSA got a powerplay of 5-on-4 while a player from Rice visited the penalty box, ending the period with an even score of 2-2.
“[Junior forward] Brandon Perez stepped up,” head coach Zac Swank shared. “He’s been playing two different positions all year long, and he was a solid, solid defenseman tonight. He played really well.”
The game picked up pace when Nolan, sophomore forward Corey Devereux and junior forward Jaylen Mendez each scored a goal during the first half of the third period. However, Rice secured a 5-on-3 powerplay shortly after as Mendez and Nolan got sent to the penalty box. As soon as Nolan got out, he glided through the ice with the sole mission to score the last goal of the game on minute 15.
“We played a pretty good all around game,” sophomore forward Jackson Stubblefield said. “I mean, there are obviously some things that we can improve on, but from this, you just have to take away the mistakes and be mindful of them going into the next game.”
Game Two
Cheering and hollering from Greek night attendees energized UTSA hockey in the first period, until the first goal was scored by Rice five minutes in. As pressure built up early on, senior defenseman Noah Dow got sent to the penalty box in the ninth minute for roughing, but the Rice 5-on-4 power play did not stop senior forward Jonathan Blum from scoring a shorthanded goal.
A rough body check from the UTSA defensemen line led to a game stoppage at minute 12. A Rice player laid on the ice injured as the medical team rushed to help.
While freshman defenseman Thad Bielanski sat in the penalty box for tripping, Stubblefield got a puck in deep that would end in an even score of 2-2.
“I think we could be better. We have a higher standard, so the scoreboard doesn’t really reflect everything, and we got a lot to work on,” graduate left wing forward Travis Sorce shared regarding what the team is looking to improve on. “Those puck battles, back checking, the simple things that no one really wants to pay attention to because it’s not always about scoring goals.”
A close battle between both teams led the scoreboard to be 4-4 in the second period until Mendez clinched the game at 5-4, a minute before the time ran out.
Senior forward Joshua LeComte scored effusively five minutes into the third period. Rice scored their fifth goal while Mendez was in the penalty box. In the second half of the period, freshman defenseman Matias Gallardo and Sorce scored a goal each to take the lead.
“Rice has a very short bench and we should’ve controlled the game a lot more,” Swank said. “I think we let them stay in the game for two periods every single game and decided to actually start playing in the third period. And I think later in the year that’s going to cost us against better opponents.”
An impressive body check by Trevino made a Rice player fly in the open air, becoming the highlight of the game. The period took a far more aggressive turn with a fistfight between Dow and another Rice player. It resulted in both being ejected three minutes before time ran out and both teams playing 4-on-4 until Nolan lit the lamp to end the night, securing UTSA’s victory.
“Emotions got a little high,” Dow reflected after the game. “I took a couple skates to the chest on some kicks and lost my cool. It’s not how we should play, and honestly, it’s not our Roadrunner hockey, because it was selfish and it put the team down.”
Next, UTSA will play an away game against Texas A&M University at 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at Spirit Ice in College Station.
