The San Diego State University men’s ice hockey team faced off a new — and potentially rewarding — era last Friday with a 6-3 cross-divisional win over Loyola Marymount University in front of a boisterous, overflow crowd of 850 fans at the Kroc Center Ice Arena.
The Aztecs, with just seven returners off last year’s 1-20-1 squad, faced off their second ACHA Division 1 season with a confidence-building win.
LMU, one of the stronger teams at the ACHA Division 2 level, scored the game’s jump goal before SDSU rallied to take a 2-1 lead. The Lions subsequently tied the game, 2-2 and went ahead, 3-2, before the Aztecs reeled off the last four goals of the fast paced, physical contest.
“My teammate, Gavin O’Bryan, roughed up one of their guys and it fired us up,” SDSU first-year defenseman Braden Mayer said. “We came out a little slow but once the third period started our guys found their legs. Once they found their legs, there was no stopping us.
“I was so excited to get my first college goal, what a relief!”
Mayer, a local San Diego product from Eastlake High School, scored a 5-3 insurance goal at 10:45 of the third period and drew an assist on teammate Mason Brown’s insurance goal at 17:25.
The din inside the building was so loud on the last two goals that the public address announcer could not be heard over the crowd noise.
Mayer (+4 plus-minus) and Brown finished the opening night outing with four points (one goal, three assists) apiece. Forward Cameron Ferraz collected three points (one goal, two assists) while defenseman Sean Yeo had two points (one goal, one assist).
Yeo tied the game, 3-3, at 11:20 of the second period and Ferraz notched what proved to be the game-winning goal at 15:32 of the middle stanza.
SDSU, now buttressed by a retooled lineup of incoming junior hockey players, embarks on a two-game road trip to the University of Colorado-Boulder this weekend.
The Aztecs return to home ice for a two-game set with Arizona State University Sept. 29-30.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SDSU saw its record dip to 2-2 following last Saturday’s 26-9 nonconference loss at Oregon State University. The Aztecs received a 52-yard field goal from senior kicker Jack Browning (West Hills) and a six-yard rushing touchdown from junior Jaylon Armstead.
The 16th-ranked Beavers (3-0) built a 12-0 lead while out-gaining SDSU 475-326 in total yards.
The Aztecs host Boise State (1-2) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium in their next game.
COLLEGE SOCCER
SDSU’s men’s team (5-0-1) topped visiting Life Pacific, 12-0, in a nonconference game on Monday to extend its unbeaten and shutout streak to six matches. The 18th-ranked Aztecs have outscored opponents 21-0 this year.
The 12 goals were the most scored by the team since 1984.
