Friday, September 30, 2011

USC Trojans vs SDSU Aztecs Live Blog Third Period - 9/30/11

As the third period gets underway here at the Kroc Arena in San Diego, USC must continue to build on the strong second period and get more shots. USC starts off with 1:58 on the powerplay, and are immediately forced to regroup in their own zone. They get it down before the strong SDSU penalty kill sends it back down. USC gets a breakout but a bad turnover allows SDSU to put it back down. SC finally gets it down but SDSU manages to knock it out again. Finally, with under a minute left in the power play, they set it up down low. Shot from the point is tipped up into the net by USC, so the faceoff will come all the way down to the Trojan end. SC wins the faceoff and Manning sends it up the ice for SC to start the power play. SDSU continues to dominate the penalty kill, ending the penalty with the puck in the Trojan zone. USC having trouble breaking out, finally sends it down into the SDSU zone for a change. Aggressive play by SC keeps it int he Aztec zone but SDSU rushed down for a good shot on Caravaggio. He saves it wide and both teams battle in the corner to get it out. Battle continues in the SC zone before Knight flips it into the netting for a faceoff with 16:37 remaining in the 3rd.

Faceoff in the SC zone won by SDSU, and the resulting shot and rebound allows SC to clear the zone. Battle in the neutral zone finally allows Caravaggio a breath, but SDSU gets it right back in. Great defensive play by SC gives them a clean breakout, and they set up their own offense down the the SDSU zone. No shots as SDSU pokes it out, and SC must regroup in the neutral zone. Bad turnover at the blue line allows SDSU to send it down into the SC zone, where the Trojans regroup and break it out before the attacking Aztecs can slow them down. Battle in the neutral zone finally won by SC, and they dump it down into the SDSU zone, where a long Dante Caravaggio shot is easily covered by the Aztec keeper. Faceoff in the SDSU zone won by the Aztecs and they are able to clear the zone. SDSU gets a good rush into the Trojan end, and a puck thrown in front redirected over the sprawling Caravaggio and into the back of the net. SDSU scores with 14:22 remaining in the game to make it 5-2, and giving them a huge momentum boost.

Faceoff in the neutral zone won by SDSU, but pressure from SC keeps it down in the Aztec zone for a moment. SDSU breaks it outand set up their offense again in the SC zone. Snipe shot from the top of the circle over the left shoulder of Caravaggio makes it 6-2 with 13:42 left in the game, and it looks like SDSU has seized control of this game with authority.

Faceoff in the neutral zone won by SC and they send it in and set up their offense. Shot saved by the SDSU goalie and we will have a faceoff down in the Aztec zone. Faceoff won by SC and they keep it down in the Aztec zone, before a turnover allows SDSU to clear the zone. USC trying to regroup but bad turnovers don't allow them the chance to send it down. Puck finally broken out but it is iced down and SC will have another faceoff in their own zone. Faceoff won by SDSU and they battle for it in the corner. Long shot wide of Caravaggio, but another bad turnover allows SDSU to control it again in the Trojan end. Duffy gets called for the slash at 11:55 and this is not what the Trojans needed right now. SC will go on the penalty kill still down 6-2.

Faceoff in the Trojan end won by SC and Waschenfelder throws it out of the zone and down into the Aztec zone. Great pressure by Morris keeps it down for a second, but SDSU breaks it out. Great defensive play in the neutral zone gives SC the puck back, but a bad turnover gives SDSU a odd man rush. Great defensive play by Waschenfelder to break up the 2-1, and the puck is sent up into the netting for a whistle. Faceoff won by the Aztecs and they send it deep. Backhand wide of the net by SDSU, but they regain control and set up the powerplay. Another big save from Alex Caravaggio gives SC the puck back. They take it down the ice and get a shot off with 18 seconds remaining in the Duffy penalty. Faceoff in the SDSU zone. Penalty to SDSU after the play gives us a 4-4.

SC trying to set up the power play now in the SDSU zone after the Duffy penalty ends. Shot saved by the SDSU net minder and we have another faceoff. Faceoff won by SC, and they keep putting the pressure on the Aztecs. Best power play tonight. SC still trying to sneak the puck into the net, but the Aztec keeper covers for another faceoff with 1:15 left in the PP. Faceoff won by SC and they keep the pressure up. SDSU finally sends it down the ice and controls it in the SC zone. SC breaks out and gets a good rush down the ice led by Morris. USC trying to set it up in the Aztec zone yet again but they are unable to capitalize on the Aztec penalty, and still cannot crack the SDSU penalty kill.

PUck is won down in the SC zone by Duffy, and he breaks it out with Walker and the Trojans enter desperation mode with under 8 minutes remaining. Comisar regroups in his own zone and brings it down for another shot. SDSU picks up the rebound and brings it down the ice, but the Trojans regain control in the own zone. Bad turnover by the SC defensemen allows SDSU to keep it in the zone, but the Trojans finally get a breakout and send it down into the SDSU zone as we are under 6 minutes now. Back and forth we go with SC trying to come back in this game and the SDSU defense playing very conservatively. SC is doing a great job on defense not allowing any Aztec forward a clean entry into the Trojan zone. Puck finally travels down into the SC zone, and Caravaggio jumps on it for the whistle with 5:10 remaining in this very chippy game.

Faceoff won by SC but it is iced down for another faceoff in the SC zone with 5:07 now. Faceoff won by SDSU and they get a quick shot off. Covered by Caravaggio. Faceoff won by SC and they break it out and send it down into the Aztec zone. Bad turnover allows SDSU to bring it back down, and they get a great chance in front of the net. Puck sent out of the zone but SDSU regains control and brings it back in. SDSU sets up their offense, trying to add to their already large lead. Caravaggio covers up a loose puck and we have a scrum in front of the net, led by Duffy. Faceoff in the Trojan zone with 3:45 left. Faceoff won to the point by SDSU. Shot blocked and travels down into the SDSU zone. Aztecs regroup and bring it back into the Trojan end. SC tries to break it out but another bad turnover costs SC. Aztecs get a quick shot from the slot through a screened Caravaggio, scoring their 7th goal of the game. Goal at 2:48 puts SDSU up 7-2.

Faceoff won by the Aztecs and they send it down. SC regroups in their own zone and brings it down the ice. Turnover allows the Aztecs to bring it back with under 2 minutes remaining here in the game. Back and forth through the neutral zone we go until SC finally sets up in the Aztec zone. Good pressure from the Trojans to finish off this game on a high note. SDSU breaks it out and brings it down the ice. Bieber takes it and tries to take it down the ice before getting owned on a bad hit by SDSU. Penalty for SDSU puts USC on the power play with 1:05 left in the game. USC hopes to capitalize on this to finish off this game on a positive note. SC running a good powerplay down in the Aztec end, getting off a few great shots. Good pressure from SC as we get under 30 seconds in the game, keeping the puck in the SDSU zone. Aztecs get it out of the zone and that will do it here in San Diego as the clock strikes zero. USC loses their second straight to start the season, falling to the San Diego State Aztecs at Kroc Arena here in San Diego. USC will be back on the ice tomorrow night at 7:30 at Anaheim Ice, but not for their home opener. They will be the visiting team against the Cal State Fullerton Titans. We will be broadcasting that game for you, so we look forward to that tomorrow night. Until then, this is James Anderson, signing off.

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