 "Photo: Nicholas Santiago / Staff Photographer")
Ben Nicoll led the San Diego State hockey team with six goals this weekend as SDSU detonated an offensive explosion that left opposing goalies ducking for cover.
The Aztecs won comfortably against CSU Long Beach on Saturday at Glacial Gardens Skating Arena in Long Beach by the score of 8-6. Senior forward Anthony Sansone led SDSU with three goals and the Aztecs capitalized five times in special teams situations, which would be the key factor in the game.
“It was an issue in the first couple games,” assistant coach David Hough said. “We worked on it. Now the penalty kill is clicking and the power play is moving.”
Key moments in the game were capitalized by SDSU in special teams situations, especially in the middle of the third period. The Aztecs looked to have a cozy three-goal lead during the second intermission before Long Beach scored with less than one minute left in the second period. The 49ers then scored again midway through the third to cut the lead to one.
“We should have never let them get to five to four,” senior forward Phillip Wong said.
That was exactly the situation SDSU found itself in, on top of being shorthanded. The Aztecs stepped up their intensity and Nicoll scored a shorthanded game-winning goal.
“They didn’t have a power play system,” Hough said. “A little pressure took them out of their game.”
CSULB head coach Eric Raimondo also found special teams to be an issue for the 49ers.
“San Diego (State) has a good power play,” Raimondo said. “We have been struggling on the penalty kill and it hurt us tonight.”
The Aztecs scored three goals on the power play and rode their top forwards to victory not just on Saturday, but Friday as well.
SDSU preceded their eight-goal night against CSULB with a 15-2 beat-down of UC San Diego last Friday in “The Battle for San Diego.” UCSD was overwhelmed by the playmaking skill of the Aztecs. Nicoll led SDSU with four goals, three of which were scored in the third period.
“I was just clicking with my linemates,” Nicoll said. “I kept my feet moving, and their defense was slow, so I was able to take advantage of some breaks.”
“Ben is the type of player that has one gear,” head coach Benjaman Jack said. “His gear is always on.”
The Aztecs noticeably wore the Tritons down after the first two periods. They scored three in the first, followed by four in the second period, before humiliating UCSD with eight in the third alone.
“(UCSD) had a short bench,” Jack said. “They were worn-out and we put it to them.”
SDSU special teams proved to be the most important advantage the Aztec’s had over the weekend, and SDSU improves to (4-4) on the year. Next weekend the Aztecs will be in Arizona to face the Arizona State Sun Devils.
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