The San Jose State men’s club ice hockey team played two turnaround games against the University of California, Berkeley on Friday and Saturday at Solar4America Ice in San Jose but were ultimately defeated in both.
The Spartans lost the first game 6-0 and the second game 3-2, despite a more competitive effort.
Cal dominated Friday’s match as SJSU struggled to score and create any momentum against a more physically imposing defense. The Spartans let the Golden Bears score all six goals in the first period but were able to keep the game scoreless after that.
“We tried to simplify each period at the time and take it one by one,” SJSU interim head coach Vaughn Reuter said in a post-game interview. “We tried taking each play collectively as a group and to simplify each action. We got pretty close tonight, but we didn't quite make it there but it was a good approach on the recovery.”
In Saturday’s match, the Spartans remained steady and held the score at a 2-2 draw until the third period.
SJSU’s defense held firm while the offense was strategic throughout the entire match with continuous power plays and goal attempts.
Despite the Spartans’ power plays into the attack zone, they were unable to score during the first period, but defended the goal line and prevented the Golden Bears from scoring.
Early in the second period, the Spartans dominated by playing closer to the visitors attacking zone while attempting to score multiple times.
Spartan forward Christopher Dysart approached the attack zone as forward Kevin Cole and defender Max Miller fought the Golden Bears for possession of the puck.
The power play allowed for a free pass to defender Harrison Folmar who took a long-distance shot, scoring the first goal of the night for SJSU.
“I think we built on our game after [Friday’s loss],” Dysart said in a post-game interview. “We had a terrible first period. I think we outplayed them in a double game, which is a tough loss to take, it’s one that we will look back on, but at the end of the day I like where we are, and we are turning in the right way.”
As four Bears offensive players attacked the Spartan zone, Dysart fought for the puck right in front of the goal line, but Cal quickly recovered by sliding it between goalie Nicholas Checklenis’ feet.
The Spartans were forced to step up as they fell behind 2-1 with only three minutes left in the second period.
SJSU, looking to avenge the 6-0 defeat, responded quickly as Folmar scored again in the first 12 seconds of the third period.
“Hockey is a touch sport,” defender Ryan Ellis said in a post-game interview. “We are icing up and stretching making sure we take care of our bodies before game time. I think we were dominating, overall, we had a great weekend. When we play according to our game plan is crucial to our performance, we do not want to fall into the opponent’s game.”
Heated altercations between players resulted in the game being stopped more than three times.
During the third period, one player from each team had to be dismissed from the rink for intentional physical contact.
Despite the penalty, the Spartans and the Golden Bears took the game into overtime as the game was still tied at 2-2.
Overtime there was a 5-minute, sudden-death period as the first team to score won and both sides were only able to use four players.
The Spartans created goal scoring chances but they couldn’t defend like the previous periods and the Golden Bears scored to win the game 3-2.
“We anticipate games to be a bit closer, but we need to be stronger,” said Reuter. “When we have a power play we are at advantage so when we are playing five against four, and have that extra player we need to be doing better generating offense in those situations.”
The SJSU men’s club ice hockey team is expected to play against the University of Utah in Salt Lake City at SLC Sports Complex next weekend. The event will include back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday night.
