By Jake Goodman · The Red Raiders return to the Lone Star State after sweeping a weekend series in Shreveport against ETBU, winning a nail-biting 3-2 Friday and a 6-2…
The Red Raiders return to the Lone Star State after sweeping a weekend series in Shreveport against ETBU, winning a nail-biting 3-2 Friday and a 6-2 blowout Saturday, with multiple firsts for rookies.
On Friday, Tech looked like the better team, dominating possession and shots on goal, scoring midway through the first period on a Jack Finn shot given by Zach Byrdsong. ETBU answered midway through the second period on a Josiah Castaneda goal given by Sal Pierro. Tech needed help in the third period, and they got it with the captain, Chase Markusson, scoring short-handed after heavy forechecking by both him and forward Alex Lam. However, ETBU responded with a tipped Caleb Ries shot that hit Thomas Thurman in front, tying the game late with around two minutes to go. Sensing overtime, Chase Markusson poke-checked the puck and created a two-on-one with freshman Mason Mashigian, who scored with 37 seconds left in the game, securing Tech's first win of the season.
Saturday was a different story in terms of the Red Raiders' offense. It was once again started by Mashigian, who scored just three minutes into the game; it would go quiet for the rest of the period with some penalties on both sides. Second period, however, Tech jumped all over ETBU scoring four unanswered goals; it started 23 seconds into the period when Jackson Wooten, a freshman, scored his first career goal to put the Red Raiders up two. Mashigian added a power-play goal that was quickly followed by Yaro Melnichuk's first career goal, with the assist going to Jacob Nagengast, first time this season, two freshmen connected for a goal. Before the end of that period, Zach Byrdsong got himself a goal just before the end of the period. The third period was calmer, with Chase Markusson on the power play giving Tech at the time a 6-0 lead, before two late goals for ETBU by Logan McNeil and Alexander Christensen gave us the final line score.
On the weekend, Tech's freshmen dominated. Yaro Melnichuk and Jackson Wooten scored their first career goals, Jacob Nagengast got his first career point assisting Yaro's goal, and goalie Will Collins picked up his first career win.
Tech goes into their next matchup with high momentum as they face off with ETBU again this time in Mansfield and look to sweep again. Tech will be without forward Riley Phillips after suffering a broken thumb at the end of Saturday's matchup in Shreveport.
Games will be at the Mansfield Starscenter October 16-17, with game times to be announced on our Instagram @ttuhockey, with games streamed on our YouTube channel by the same name.