PHOENIX — Arizona State women’s hockey opened the weekend series with a win over the University of Massachusetts Amherst, fueled by a three-point night from junior forward Cameron Devenney.
Devenney made sure her presence was known on the ice tonight, lifting the team to a 3-2 win over the Minutewomen with her first goal of the season.
The Sun Devils didn’t take their foot off the gas anytime soon, capitalizing on a hooking penalty from UMass graduate defensemen Sara Dunford, which later led to a goal from sophomore forward Kylie Brown to put the squad up 2-0.
Brown now has two goals in two games with the Sun Devils this season and was a factor in the team winning last week against their in-state rivals, the Arizona Wildcats, in a 2-0 finish.
Eventually, the Minutewomen would bounce back later in the second period with a power-play goal from freshman forward Gianna Bonfilio, cutting the ASU lead in half.
Bonfilio scored her first collegiate goal off of the Sun Devils' senior goalie Quinn Eatinger, who conceded her first goal of the season.
Starting the third period, ASU freshman defenseman Kelzi Olson scored a deflection goal set up by none other than Devenney to put the squad back up 3-1.
UMass would strike back with a goal from junior forward Hannah Gromko, on a 4v4 opportunity following a penalty from Brown and Minutewoman sophomore forward Ivorie Arguh.
The Sun Devils would go on to win with a stellar performance by Eatinger, saving 30 of the 32 shots on goal and now totalling 58 saves on the year.
The defense was solid for Eatinger, helping to block shots with their body.
UMass senior captain and goalie Sarah Matthews saved 39 shots on 42 attempts tonight, while boasting her total saves to 118 on 124 shot attempts.
ASU’s Devenney looks to keep her point streak as she leads the team with four on the season.
Both teams will face off again tomorrow night, with the Minutewomen looking to avoid a sweep and secure their first win of the season after being swept by Michigan-Dearborn the week prior, as the Sun Devils aim to improve to 3-0.
The penalty situation again hurt the Minutewomen today, leading to yet another power-play goal this season, increasing their total to three.
On the attack, UMass is only one for seven on the attack, with their last one coming last week.
On the other hand, ASU looks to hold the line like they did tonight, only letting up two goals, with one that could’ve easily been prevented.
The Sun Devils have won their five previous matchups with the Minutewomen and will be looking for their sixth win tomorrow.