An offensive onslaught is entertainingly necessary.

A stingy defense puts wins in the column.

The Grand Canyon University D1 Men's Hockey team demonstrated both sides of that equation in a weekend sweep of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, pummeling the Rams with over 100 shots on goal combined in the two games, but using its backlines to earn a pair of 3-1 victories in Western Collegiate Hockey League play. The Lopes' defense has now allowed just three goals in its first four games, and helped keep 12^th-ranked GCU undefeated on the season with its first-ever 4-0 overall and WCHL record in its six-year tenure at the ACHA Division 1 level.

Friday: GCU 3, Colorado State 1

To say the Lopes' offensive intensity was consistent Friday night would be a huge understatement. 18 shots on goal in each of the 1^st and 3^rd periods, with 19 more in the middle frame, kept the Rams' defense on its heels throughout the night. The frustrating part for GCU was the barrage didn't change the scoreboard for nearly the entire first two periods. Shot No. 37 on the night finally broke the scoreless tie – thanks to GCU newcomer Michael Schwartz's team-leading 5^th goal of the campaign. That score seemed to turn the tide as Tyler Misialek gave the Lopes an insurance goal six minutes into the final period, and a power-play opportunity a few minutes later was cashed in by Owen Hanson to put the game out of reach. Lopes' goalie Dmytro Kubrytskyi came within 64 seconds of his first shutout of the season, but CSU's Ryan Andor scored on the Rams' 24^th and final shot of the night. 

Saturday: GCU 3, Colorado State 1

If the Rams guessed that the 55 shots the previous night would wear the Lopes out, they guessed wrong. Unfortunately, the theme was nearly identical: 20 1^st-period shots (and 50 for the game), but only one Lopes' goal, which came in the final 90 seconds of the period from the stick of Nash Jacobsma (on assists from Schwartz and Braden Husby). What was different about the Saturday matchup was that the Rams' offense showed signs of life, peppering the GCU defense with 32 shots on goal in the first two periods, and leading to Robert Grasso's tying goal with three minutes left in the second frame to knot the score heading to the final 20 minutes. The Lopes' discussion at intermission led to a renewed commitment to defense, which shut down CSU to the tune of just seven 3^rd-period shots. That almost wasn't enough to avoid overtime, but Husby broke through the Rams' backline with 1:17 left to score the gamewinner, and Ben Oakland put the proverbial frosting on the cake with an unassisted goal with four seconds left. That rewarded Phoenix native (and SUNY-Cortland transfer) Hunter Hein with his first win in goal as a Lope, stopping 38 of 39 CSU shots.

Now the Lopes come home – somewhat. Due to the recent storm damage that forced the temporary closure of the Lopes' 'home ice', AZ Ice Arcadia, GCU's next few home games will be shifted to other venues beginning tomorrow (Friday) night, October 10. The Lopes will host the University of Arizona in a non-conference matchup at AZ Ice Gilbert (2305 East Knox Road in Gilbert), with puck drop scheduled for 9:15PM.