The Grand Canyon University D1 Men's Hockey team couldn't overcome a couple of explosive scoring runs by No. 18 University of Arizona and were swept by the Wildcats Friday and Saturday in Tucson. A late 3^rd-period rally gave U of A a 5-3 win Friday night, then a big second period powered Arizona to a 5-2 victory Saturday afternoon at Tucson Convention Center. The sweep squared the season series, since the Lopes protected their home ice with their first-ever series sweep of the 'Cats in early October.  

Friday: Arizona 5, GCU 3

It was hard to tell the two teams apart in the first two periods Friday night. Two goals each in the first period, and one in the second. 42 shots on goal over the first two frames distributed almost completely down the middle. Seven penalties for the Wildcats, and six for the Lopes.

Then the similarities stopped.

In a nearly clean third frame (only one penalty in the entire 20 minutes), the Wildcats' defense limited the Lopes to just seven shots. That allowed the Wildcats (15 3^rd-period shots) to spend more time in GCU's zone, finally breaking through for the two tiebreaking goals in a five-minute span late in the game.

That spoiled a 30-save performance for GCU netminder Riley Morgan. Braden Husby, Gavin Uckele and Dylan Dent found the net for the Lopes, while Jacob Cummings picked up a pair of assists in the loss.

Saturday: Arizona 5, GCU 2

The early 1PM puck drop didn't seem to help the Lopes, since their offense never quite synced up. The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the game's first six minutes and never trailed. Griffin Duininck's third goal of the season cut the deficit in half with six minutes left in the first period, but the Lopes' hopes for a tie were dashed by another fast UA start in the second period, netting two more goals in the first six minutes again. The Lopes' offense only managed six shots on goal in the second frame, and by the time Uckele set up Lopes' junior forward Cameron Neaylon for a goal with 1:18 left in the period, it was too late. Jesse Lowell's hat trick was the scoring difference for the Wildcats as he scored their first goal of the afternoon, then their final two in the latter half of the second period.

Lopes' freshman goalie Jacob DeMoranville shut the Wildcats out in the game's final 23 minutes, saving a total of 33 shots. Husby, Uckele and Dent each wound up with a goal and an assist for the weekend as the Lopes' overall record dropped to 5-8-1 overall.

After playing nine of their last 10 games away from home, GCU now comes home for three straight before the semester break, beginning Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4, when they host a quick two-game set against 2^nd-ranked University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Puck drop at  AZ Ice Arcadia Saturday is scheduled for 6PM, with Sunday's matchup beginning at 12:30PM.