PITTSBURGH – Matthew Kopperud shined on the power play, scoring two goals in No. 13/14 Arizona State ice hockey's 4-1 victory against Robert Morris on Saturday night. Kopperud's performance boasted him to the title of the nation's leading power play goal scorer with eight so far this season.
ASU's victory was supported by Jackson Niedermayer and Ty Murchison's first goals of the season. Goaltender TJ Semptimphelter earned his 14th start of the year and made 25 saves. Senior defenseman Tim Lovell played in his 100th NCAA game on Saturday night.
The Sun Devils (12-3-4) put up 43 shots on goal while holding the Colonials (4-12-3) to less than 10 shots in each of the first two periods.
Kopperud, an alternate captain and senior forward, already set the ASU program record for most career power play goals by a Sun Devil skater earlier this season and further extended his reign with his 30th and 31st PPG at RMU. His first goal of the night was another landmark and became his 50th career goal. Tim Lovell and Lukas Sillinger assisted on both goals.
Jackson Niedermayer joined in on the scoring halfway through the third period with his first goal of the season.
After a scoreless first period, the Sun Devil offense ignited on the power play with Kopperud's two power play goals. RMU committed five penalties in the middle frame, giving the Sun Devils ample opportunity to get the special teams units firing. The Sun Devils were up 2-0 at the end of the second period.
RMU answered back, scoring their sole goal of the game just 20 seconds into the third period to push the score to 2-1. Nine minutes later, Jackson Niedermayer scored from distance at the top of the zone with an assist from Benji Eckerle. In a last ditch effort by the Colonials, RMU pulled its goalie in favor of the extra skater. Ty Murchison put the nail in the coffin with an empty net goal, his first goal of the season.
ASU looks to close out the two-game series with another win tomorrow, Sunday, December 17. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. MST and will stream on FloHockey. Fans can also listen in on Fox Sports 910.
ASU's victory was supported by Jackson Niedermayer and Ty Murchison's first goals of the season. Goaltender TJ Semptimphelter earned his 14th start of the year and made 25 saves. Senior defenseman Tim Lovell played in his 100th NCAA game on Saturday night.
The Sun Devils (12-3-4) put up 43 shots on goal while holding the Colonials (4-12-3) to less than 10 shots in each of the first two periods.
Kopperud, an alternate captain and senior forward, already set the ASU program record for most career power play goals by a Sun Devil skater earlier this season and further extended his reign with his 30th and 31st PPG at RMU. His first goal of the night was another landmark and became his 50th career goal. Tim Lovell and Lukas Sillinger assisted on both goals.
?? 50TH CAREER GOAL IS A SNIPE ??@kopper303 /// #BeTheTradition@flohockey
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 17, 2023
Tune in: https://t.co/ufcV5gakqC pic.twitter.com/iGjvhgxE5V
Jackson Niedermayer joined in on the scoring halfway through the third period with his first goal of the season.
FROM LONG DISTANCE ??@jniedermayer27 /// #BeTheTradition@flohockey tune in: https://t.co/iFgMmACFad pic.twitter.com/pEvypK3UVY
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 17, 2023
After a scoreless first period, the Sun Devil offense ignited on the power play with Kopperud's two power play goals. RMU committed five penalties in the middle frame, giving the Sun Devils ample opportunity to get the special teams units firing. The Sun Devils were up 2-0 at the end of the second period.
RMU answered back, scoring their sole goal of the game just 20 seconds into the third period to push the score to 2-1. Nine minutes later, Jackson Niedermayer scored from distance at the top of the zone with an assist from Benji Eckerle. In a last ditch effort by the Colonials, RMU pulled its goalie in favor of the extra skater. Ty Murchison put the nail in the coffin with an empty net goal, his first goal of the season.
ASU looks to close out the two-game series with another win tomorrow, Sunday, December 17. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. MST and will stream on FloHockey. Fans can also listen in on Fox Sports 910.