Arizona Hockey jumps to No. 6 in ACHA following weekend action

Arizona Hockey (14-3) jumps up to No. 6 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association rankings, following huge performances this past weekend.

The Arizona Hockey team is burning up the ice! Well, in a figurative way. Winners of three straight heading into this last weekend, that solid play continued on.

Following their drubbings of Maryville and overtime win versus Grand Canyon, another gutty performance was needed if the Wildcats were to come away winners against some stiff competition.

Arizona Wildcats

Playing in front of their home crowd, Arizona would need a big performance if they were going to continue their strong play and hopefully climb the national rankings.

The weekend slate of Hockey action began on Thursday, when Arkansas came to town to take on the Cats. From the early go, it was all Arizona! Wildcat forward Kyle Wade got the Cats on the board first with a nice goal to make it 1-0 in the first period.

Not long after, it was Bayley Marshall was the one who would find the net on a power play goal to make it 2-0 Cats just before the end of the first period.

The second period would be more Wildcat dominance. Still up 2-0 early in the 2nd, Arizona forward Josh Larson got in on the scoring action, when he was able to put one past the Arkansas keeper to make it 3-0.

Shortly after, it was forward Justin Plumhoff joining the scoring party to make it 4-0 Cats just before the end of the second period.

Luckily for fans in attendance, the offensive barrage did not cease. The Wildcats would continue to dominate the Razorbacks, putting this one away for good in the final period, en route to the 7-1 victory. Marshall would add the final goal of the evening, his second goal of the night with four seconds left, to officially deliver the win for the Cats.

Tuning up for Friday and Saturday’s matches, the real test though would begin against then No. 9 Missouri State.

Friday’s action would begin with a bang! In the first period, Arizona would be the ones to strike first as forward Ethan Stahlhuth was able to rocket the puck past the Bears’ goalie from the circle to make it 1-0!

Not long after it would be Trey Decker scoring to make it 2-0, Arizona! Not going quietly, the Bears would respond shortly after, scoring their only goal of the game to make it 2-1.

However, the first period would end would pretty much end there, with the Wildcats still on top 2-1.

The second period would be much more exciting. Arizona came out focused, delivering one of the most dominate periods I’ve ever seen. The offensive flurry began when forward Max Meyer scored to make it 3-1. Then it was Arizona captain Anthony Cusanelli scoring back-to-back goals to make it 5-1 just before the second break of the evening!

His second goal was a thing of beauty too, as Cusanelli went top shelf from the circle for his second goal of the evening.

The third period would have a little less excitement. Regardless, the Wildcats would still add another goal in the period, cruising to the convincing, 6-1 victory over Missouri State. The Wildcats would take game one of the two-game series.

The final game of the weekend would be a huge one for Arizona. The Wildcats looked to sweep the weekend action, as well as dispatching then No. 9 Missouri State in convincing fashion.

Just 17 seconds in the Saturday finale, Stahlhuth would get things going for the Wildcats scoring very quickly to make it 1-0. Unfortunately, not much else would happen in that first period despite a few decent attempts. Arizona would enter the break with a 1-0 lead.

The second period would be mostly quiet too. That is until Marshall would score just before the end of the period to give Arizona the 2-0 advantage.

Up 2-0 to start the third, Arizona would put things away for good, when Wildcat forward Josh Larson would put one past the goalie to make it 3-0!

That would essentially seal this one, as Arizona would end up with the 3-0 victory, sweeping Missouri State, picking up their sixth, straight win on the season!

With the wins, Arizona improves to 14-3 on the year and now climbs up to No. 6 the rankings in the AHCA and deservedly so! The Wildcats will be off all this week with the Thanksgiving Holiday upon us, but will return to action next week against ASU on Friday and Saturday of next week inside the Tucson Convention Center!

Come out and support the Cats as they battle the Devils!

At Zona Zealots, we are proud of the way our Wildcats battled, and came away victorious in some tough match-ups! Here’s to hoping they enjoy their time off and get prepped for ASU! Bear Down, Arizona!