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The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

Ciurro blocks Oklahoma leading Wildcats to a 7-0 victory

Arizona+hockey+attemps+to+score+against+Oklahoma+on+Oct.+27.
Addison Shinn

Arizona hockey attemps to score against Oklahoma on Oct. 27.

Arizona had all cylinders firing on both ends of the ice in an early start against Oklahoma that concluded a three-game series against two Oklahoma schools.

The first period was a fairly even match with Arizona getting just one tally on the board, a goal by Tyler Griffith. But in the second period, Oklahoma started to run into penalty trouble and Arizona made them pay.

Arizona took advantage of all open ice when 4-on-4, 5-on-4 and 5-on-3 play commenced in their favor. Griffith had two goals, Jake Dickinson, Josh Larson, Anthony Cusanelli, Chris Westlund and Justin Plumhpff all had one goal a piece. Griffith led the team with two goals and an assist.

Leading scorer Cusanelli got his first point of the weekend with his second period goal, whiich is something the sniper hasn’t been used to as of late.

Freshman goaltender Anthony Ciurro getting the shutout was the number one priority for the team head coach Berman said. Ciurro agreed, saying the boys were blocking shot after shot so he wouldn’t have to face as many. He wound up facing 45, saving every single one.

“If there’s a player that doesn’t get enough credit and doesn’t get talked about enough it’s Christopher Westlund. That kid’s just a horse. That kid every single night, does everything right. He’s an absolute leader, an unbelievable kid,” Berman said.

Arizona finished the weekend series on a high note and walked away with a 2-1 record. However, they can’t sit on the momentum and have to work hard and prepare to face No. 4 ranked Colorado next weekend.
Berman is confident heading into the contest and fans can expect to see the team playing a game similar to the game against Oklahoma. 

“We improved on a lot tonight,” Berman said, “ We were really simple in the fact that we were chippin’ to the outside of the wall. Colorado is really aggressive on the blue line; they’re gonna come down and pinch a lot.”

Arizona will be back on the ice at the Tucson Convention Center on Thursday, Nov. 2. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.


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