CALDWELL, Idaho – College of Idaho scored on their first five man-up advantages and recorded two huge penalty kills in the second half, as the Coyotes remained unbeaten, outlasting Utah State, 13-9, in a MCLA Top-25 match-up at Simplot Stadium.
The No. 8-ranked Yotes (5-0) limited USU to just two goals after the break, taking advantage of two huge opportunities early in the third quarter to pull away from an 8-7 halftime edge.
The Aggies (2-2), ranked No. 23 in the latest poll, had a man-up advantage for the first 45 seconds of the third quarter – but
Cade Brown made a huge save, helping C of I stave off the opportunity. Two minutes later, successive USU penalties gave the Yotes a two-man advantage for two minutes.
Tyler Sanchez finished a feed from
Ryan Henning to give C of I a two goal lead and a minute later, Sanchez scored unassisted on a laser to the bottom left corner of the net, pushing the margin to 10-7.
Henning got into the act with four minutes left in the quarter, scoring off a pass from
Keenan Pattwell after
Dami Ashaye started a counter-attack following a big hit in the USU offensive zone.
Brown did the rest for the Yotes, making five fourth quarter saves – finishing the night with 13 stops.
The first half featured five ties, with C of I trailing for the first time this season after a Miles Russon goal late in the opening quarter gave USU a 3-2 edge. Tied 6-6, C of I took the lead for good, as
Hank Ontiveros won a face-off and 12 seconds later, Sanchez scored off a
R.J. Walker pass.
Sanchez led C of I with four goals and an assist, with Henning and
Casey Davies each logging two goals and three assists. Both
Joey Brant Walker added a pair of scores for the victors. The Coyotes finished 5-for-7 on the man-advantage, with USU just 1-for-3.
Russon led the Aggies with four goals and two assists.
C of I returns to action next weekend with two huge contests in Ashland, Ore. – meeting both UC Santa Cruz and Southern Oregon.
