DI notches two league wins; DIII splits with Nebraska

The Division I Razorbacks played their first home games this past weekend at the Jones Center. On Thursday the Razorbacks hosted the 12th ranked Buffaloes from the University of Colorado.  The Buffaloes entered the game with a record of 3-1 and started the contest strong, scoring two goals in the first period. The Hogs got on the board in the second period thanks to a goal from Assistant Captain Landyn Howze but the Buffs cruised to a 6-1 win.

On Friday, the Razorbacks played host to the 17th ranked Rams of Colorado State in the first of a two game series. The Rams entered this series with a record of 2-3. The Rams struck first, scoring a goal in the first period. The second period was scoreless as the Rams held onto their 1-0 lead entering the third period. The Razorbacks finally struck back at the end of the third period with the goaltender, Rio Virgoe, pulled and tied the game up at 1-1.  Thanks to that late marker by Chris Stovall, the teams entered a death overtime where Luc Gradisar scored the game-winning goal, giving the Hogs their first WCHL conference victory of the season.

On Saturday, the Razorbacks again played host to the Rams of Colorado State. The Rams scored early and led the Hogs 1-0 at the end of the first period. In the second period the Rams again scored a goal and took a 2-0 lead. Arkansas finally got on the board in the second period thanks to a goal by Chris Stovall.  Later in the second period, the Hogs tied the game thanks to a goal from Assistant Captain Collin Young.  At the end of the second period the score was all tied up at 2-2.  One minute into the third period, Chris Stovall broke the tie by scoring the eventual game winner during 4-on-4 play thanks to a pair of early period penalties.  The Division I team’s 3-2 win over CSU marked the program’s first ever sweep of a WCHL opponent.  The DI Hogs travel to Arizona to tangle with conference foes University of Arizona and Arizona State.

Meanwhile, the Division III Ice Hogs got on the road this weekend to Omaha, NE to take face the Cornhuskers of the University of Nebraska. After having beaten the Razorbacks earlier this season in the Pacific Region Showcase, the Cornhuskers entered the series against the Razorbacks with an undefeated 5-0 record.

During the Friday tilt, the Huskers dominated the first two periods and held a 2-0 entering the third period. But the Razorbacks caught fire in the third period. Five minutes into the third period, Arkansas got on the board thanks to an unassisted goal by rookie Grant Deacon. Two minutes later, fellow rookie Jeffery Sands scored the game tying goal.  Then, with under four minutes left in the game, the team’s leading scorer on the season, Alex Kueser, scored the go-ahead goal for the Hogs giving them a 3-2 lead over the Huskers.  Finally, with under a minute left in the game, Kueser potted an empty net marker to earn the Hogs a critical 4-2 win.

Saturday afternoon, the Division III team again faced the Huskers for the second game in the two game weekend series. During the first period, it was all Huskers as Nebraska jumped out to a 2-0 lead. In the second period, the Hogs sprung to life thanks to a goals from Zach Palmer and Alex Kueser.  With the game tied entering the third period, Nebraska pulled ahead on a pair of goals en route to a 4-2 win.

The Division III Hogs will return home this weekend to face rival Missouri State.