The Oregon club hockey team (6-2) defeated USC 3-2 last Friday, but lost 3-2 the following night.
Coordinator Jeff Gibb said the contest on Friday was scoreless until USC (5-3) struck halfway through the second period on a power play. Oregon responded with two goals to grasp the lead, but the Trojans tied the score in the third period. Junior Matt Lutsch’s goal midway through the third gave the Ducks the decisive advantage.
Junior Colton Clay and junior Eric Steinmann also scored goals in the win.
“When we got on the ice we outplayed them both games, but just found the back of the net Friday when we needed to,” Gibb said.
On Saturday, a small stretch in the third period decided the difference.
“Those two-and-a-half minutes were the most crucial in the game,” Gibb said.
With just four minutes remaining, USC had a five-to-three man advantage on the ice. For two and a half minutes, two Oregon players could only watch from the penalty box as the Trojans’ Joshua Frazier launched in a set of goals to help propel USC to victory.
Oregon’s Mike Hideghety, a senior, struck first blood for Oregon in the loss on a “beautiful 2-1 put home,” Gibb said. USC answered back in the second with a goal of its own. Clay slapped in his second goal of the series in the third, only to see the Trojans take advantage of Oregon’s penalty situation later in the third.
Steinmann said USC showed a strong power play and demonstrated solid defense. He said the team feels a need to improve, but that both teams still stand as powerhouses in the Pac-8.
Oregon next plays at Washington for the I-5 Cup Friday and again on Sunday. The Ducks have won the interstate rivalry three consecutive years. USC heads to Stanford this weekend to take on the Cardinal.