Arizona defeats Michigan State to win Division II title

AUBURN — Dylan Smith scored four goals and Arizona State overcame a sluggish first period to beat Michigan State 7-2 and win the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association Division 2 championship on Saturday at Norwegian Savings Bank Arena. I accomplished it.

The national championship is Arizona State's first in program history.

“It feels so good. I've been waiting a long time,” Smith said, later adding. “Everyone wanted it. We lost badly last year, got eliminated in the quarterfinals, were the No. 1 seed, and we didn't let that happen again.”

The Spartans scored 21 seconds into the game and added another point late in the opening period.

The Wildcats responded five seconds later with Smith scoring his first goal off an assist from Hudson Fox.

“That was a big deal,” Smith said. “I think me and Hadi drew it pretty well. We saved it for the big time, and it obviously worked in the draw.”

The goal also boosted the Wildcats' confidence after a slow first period.

“I think that made a huge difference,” Smith said. “So losing 2-0 is not what you want to do. Scoring that goal definitely gave the players a little bit more confidence.”

Nearly five minutes into the second period, Smith tied the score. He had a wide open net and Jacques Sapra gave him the puck. Smith started to go down, but still managed to put the puck in the goal.

“I grew up with that kid, obviously he's my brother,” said Kyle Smith, one of Arizona's two coaches and Dylan Smith's older brother. “I've watched him play thousands of times and he never ceases to amaze me. He's a human highlight reel, an unstoppable force, a freight train from hell.” .He'll just run straight through you and put one in the net. He's an unstoppable force.”

That started a dominant second period for the Wildcats, scoring four goals while holding the Spartans scoreless.

“We're hungry for more. I think we wanted it more,” Dylan Smith said. “They thought we had the first goal, so we weren't going to stop.”

Dylan Smith and the Foxes set up Theoren Hanna's winning goal.

Late in the period, Michigan State had two penalty whistles at the 9:48 mark, giving Arizona a 4-on-2 power play.

Dylan Smith scored 34 seconds into the power play, and Sapura scored a few minutes later to push the lead to 5-2.

“Once you know that, I think the best team in the tournament won,” Kyle Smith said. “Once we started getting going, we were too much for most teams we played. We had to settle into our game and forget the nerves of playing in our first-ever championship game. Once I got over that wall, things started moving right away.”

Dylan Smith shot the puck at Michigan State goalie Jason Slicker 7:40 into the third game, and Smith beat Slicker with the rebound and put the puck in the net for the final goal. Ta.

“I hit a shot, but the rebound was loose and I felt like I was tied up. I just jumped in and hoped for the best, and I got lucky,” Dylan Smith said.

Kyle Smith added: “He will stop at nothing. He is the ultimate competitor.”

Sapra added an empty-net goal to push the lead to 7-2.

Fox, the Wildcats' leading scorer, had three assists.

Michigan State's goals were scored by Del Wohlert and Russell Shenghiet.

Kyle Smith said the Wildcats' national championship was a multi-year journey to the top.

He played at Arizona. Upon graduating in 2022, he was immediately hired as coach alongside Kevin Smith (no relation).

“It's unbelievable,” Kyle Smith said. “When I was a freshman, the program was a mess. Since I got there, and since my fellow coach here, Kevin, got there, we haven't been able to recruit. , we were able to turn the situation around.

“It's been a night and day difference. We've moved up the division and progressed every year. We accomplished a huge feat this year, our first win against ASU in 11 years. And we're coming out of here. I just needed to make it happen.”

” previous