Third period collapse leads to loss
Arizona State came to town Saturday night with Long Beach looking to end their two game losing streak.
Freshman, Joe Loya, tallied his first Long Beach goal a few moments into the game from a pass by Francis Lemay to put the home team up early. The Beach looked to be taking the lead into the intermission but Arizona had other plans with a late goal against Adam Moroz to tie the game.
Blake Sundy and Joseph Toews each scored in the opening half of the second period to put Long Beach up 3-1. Arizona quickly answered back with a goal and the teams headed into the final frame with the score 3-2 Long Beach.
When the third period started, Long Beach looked extremely flat and a fast Arizona team quickly took advantage by tying the game 26 seconds in. Play seemed to stall as the teams traded scoring chances through the remainder of the period. Arizona caught a break and capitalized with just under five minutes to go and made it 4-3. Tyler Galgas helped bring the game even with a goal off a Michael Hakimi pass and the game looked to be heading into overtime. Unfortunately the tie was short lived as Arizona would find the back of the net off of a spin shot from the top of the circle through a screen which found its way by the Long Beach goalie. The Beach pressured late but could not tie the game and ultimately lost 5-4.
The game puts the Beach season record at 5-5-0 and marks their third loss by one goal this season.
Next week Long Beach will meet Northridge in a rematch from October and face off against San Diego State for the first time this season.
