The first game in the battle of the Sun Belt goes to Arizona State.

The Sun Devils defeated the Chargers 3-2 Friday at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe, Arizona.

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UAH (1-6-0) continued to struggle offensively, particularly on the power play. The Chargers were 0-for-6, and have not scored in their last 20 power play opportunities.

Arizona State, in its third season as an NCAA Division I program, improved to 2-5-2.

As they have for all seven games so far this season, the Chargers allowed the first goal.

On a 4-on-3 power play, Jakob Stridsberg beat UAH goaltender Mark Sinclair on a one-timer from the right circle for a 1-0 Sun Devil lead at the 7:40 mark of the first period.

In the offensive zone, UAH had plenty of shot attempts in the first period, but only one — by Brennan Saulnier with 1:48 left — was on net. Eight of the Chargers’ chances went wide, and six were blocked by the Sun Devils.

The Chargers finally got to make ASU goaltender and Ottawa Senators prospect Joey Daccord work in the second period, putting 10 shots on him. But the one goal they scored was on a bad turnover.

Nick Gushue tried to pass the puck around the back boards, but Brennan Saulnier was there to intercept it behind the ASU net. Saulnier then wrapped it around past Daccord for a 1-1 game at the 1:45 mark of the second period.

Stridsberg put the Sun Devils back up 2-1 almost four minutes later, putting in a rebound for his second goal of the game.

UAH had three chances to tie it up on the power play, but it continued to struggle.

The Devils had a chance to extend their lead on a penalty shot after Cam Knight slashed Anthony Croston on a shorthanded breakaway with 10:50 left in the second. Sinclair was patient and made the save.

ASU did get its two-goal lead at 5:13 of the third, when captain Dylan Hollman beat Sinclair while falling in the slot.

UAH pulled within 3-2 with 1:18 to go with the extra attacker when Kurt Gosselin scored his second goal of the season, assisted by Hans Gorowsky.

Sinclair finished with 19 saves on 22 ASU shots on goal.

Also complicating matters was UAH’s faceoff situation. UAH only won 19 of 62 faceoffs.

UAH has now lost 13 straight games against non-conference opponents. The last chance to break the streak for this season is in the series finale, which is Saturday night at 9:05 p.m. Central Time.

UAH found nothing but frustration in Ithaca, N.Y., this weekend, falling 3-0 to Cornell on Saturday as the Big Red completed a dominant series sweep.

The Chargers (1-5-0) managed only 11 shots on goal against the Big Red (2-0-0) as they lost their 12th straight non-conference game. They’ll finish their out-of-WCHA schedule next week at Arizona State.

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Including Cornell’s 5-1 win on Friday, the Chargers managed only one goal in the series. UAH’s power play was almost nonexistent, going 0-for-12 for the weekend.

The Chargers didn’t get many opportunities to score in the first period, even with two power play chances. UAH only had four shots on goal to the Big Red’s nine.

After UAH’s first power play expired, Cornell responded with a 3-on-1 break, leading to a 1-0 lead 3:05 into the game on Matt Nuttle’s goal. The opponent has scored first in all of the Chargers’ six games this season.

UAH probably had its best power play of the weekend early in the second period with some good passing, but only had one shot on net.

Cornell then scored on its next power play, with Trevor Yates getting his second goal of the series on Jordan Uhelski’s doorstep with 10:35 left in the second.

The Chargers were in a bind late in the second period with three straight penalties. Kurt Gosselin was called for hooking and slashing with 25 seconds left, then Brandon Parker got a cross-checking penalty seven seconds later to set up a two-man advantage for Cornell.

UAH was able to kill all the penalties early in the third period, but could not convert it into much offensive pressure.

But the Chargers were still in it down 2-0, up until Brennan Saulnier’s boarding penalty with 3:53 to go. Trevor Yates struck again on the power play to make it 3-0.

While UAH’s power play floundered, Cornell finished 4-for-13 in the series with the advantage.

The frustration then vented over for UAH. Ten seconds after the goal, Gosselin committed a high-sticking penalty that also drew a 10-minute misconduct.

Uhelski finished with 19 saves on 22 Cornell shots on goal.

Cornell freshman goaltender made all 11 saves for the shutout.

UAH couldn’t withstand the attack of Cornell in the second and third periods in a 5-1 loss Friday night in Ithaca, N.Y.

UAH (1-4-0) had a feverish attack late in the first period thanks to plenty of power play opportunities, but Cornell (1-0-0) weathered the storm and took over the game.

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UAH’s losing streak against non-conference opponents is now at 11 games.

Cornell scored the opening goal on the power play. Cam Knight went off for interference at 4:35, and only four seconds later, Alec McCrea scored as the puck went through a thick screen and past Jordan Uhelski.

UAH had extensive chances to score late in the first period as Cornell piled up some penalties.

Alex Rauter got a slashing call with 3:58 left, and then Noah Bauld checked Brennan Saulnier from behind into the boards. Bauld got a five-minute major and a game misconduct, giving the Chargers a two-man advantage.

The Chargers got many a shot on Cornell freshman goaltender Matthew Galajda, but could not break through. The Big Red killed off the Rauter penalty, but after Yanna Kaldis tripped Josh Kestner, UAH had another 5-on-3 opportunity to finish the first period.

UAH ended up with a 16-7 shots on goal advantage but found itself down 1-0 at intermission.

The Big Red killed off the Kaldis penalty and the major to start the second period, and then went on the attack.

When Christian Rajic went off for tripping, Cornell scored quickly on their ensuing power play again. Trevor Yates made it 2-0 with a goal just five minutes into the second.

Less than two minutes later, Morgan Barron made it 3-0 after putting in a rebound after a 2-on-1.

The Chargers’ best chance in the second period came when Tyler Poulsen, back after sitting out last week’s series finale at Michigan Tech, had a breakaway, but he ended up in the net instead of the puck after Galajda made the save.

UAH simply could not mount a comeback, getting only three shots on goal in the third period. Meanwhile, Jeff Malott added two goals in the third period for a 5-0 Cornell lead.

Brennan Saulnier prevented the shutout with his second goal of the season with 3:08 left in the game. Poulsen and Connor Merkley got the assists.

Uhelski finished the game with 26 saves. Galajda had 28.

Game two of the series is Saturday night at 6 p.m. Central Time. The game can be seen via subscription to the Ivy League Network.

UAH got its first ever victory over 15th-ranked Michigan Tech on Saturday, beating the Huskies 4-2 in Houghton.

The Chargers, whose first win of the season earned a series split, were 0-13-2 all-time against Michigan Tech and 0-8-1 at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

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The Chargers (1-3-0 overall, 1-1-0 WCHA) came up big on the penalty kill, which had struggled in the first three games of the season. Michigan Tech (4-2-1 overall, 2-1-1 WCHA) came up empty on eight power plays, including four in the third period alone while UAH was nursing a two-goal lead.

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Jordan Uhelski was a big reason for the victory, and not just during the penalty kill. The senior goaltender made 41 saves, limiting rebounds and getting the cover ups when needed.

The Chargers were outshot 43-20, partly a result of being shorthanded a bunch, but got the timely goals: one on the power play and one shorthanded.

UAH had to play without its leading goal scorer in Tyler Poulsen, who was suspended by the WCHA on Saturday for his vicious elbow hit on Raymond Brice in the third period of Friday’s game.

Michigan Tech got on the board early again in this game, with Thomas Beretta one-timing a centering pass in the slot over Jordan Uhelski at the 4:56 mark.

UAH’s hot power play got its first shot after Cooper Watson checked Madison Dunn into the boards. And Kurt Gosselin tied the game … twice.

First, Gosselin ripped one from the high slot to beat Tech freshman goaltender Robbie Beydoun, who was making his first collegiate start, with 11:15 left in the first. However, the officials waved the goal after consulting the video replay.

No matter. Thirty-two seconds later on the power play, Gosselin did a replay of his own, and this time it counted. Gosselin’s first goal of the season tied the game at 1-1, assisted by Brandon Parker and Brennan Saulnier.

It was the fourth straight power play opportunity converted by the Chargers.

Beydoun got the quick hook, and MTU coach Joe Shawhan put in Patrick Munson, last night’s goalie, in net.

The Huskies, who scored three power play goals their 5-4 win on Friday, got three power play chances after Gosselin’s goal, but UAH was able to kill them off without incident.

MTU had plenty of scoring chances, however, and was able to put 17 shots on goal in the first period to UAH’s four. Uhelski kept steady, stopping 16 of them.

The Chargers made their fourth shot on goal count, taking a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Josh Kestner, driving toward the net, backhanded a Christian Rajic pass in mid-air past Munson with 3:57 left in the period.

Connor Merkley got the second assist on the goal for his first career point at UAH.

The Chargers were able to get more consistent offensive pressure and limiting Michigan Tech in the second period. The Huskies still had a shots advantage in the period, but it was only 13-10.

UAH got the lone goal of the second, however, and this time it came on the Huskies’ power play.

With Saulnier in the box for a roughing penalty, defenseman John Teets picked off a puck near the Charger blue line for a breakaway, then scored on a trickler between Munson’s legs for a 3-1 lead with 9:31 remaining in the frame. It was UAH’s first shorthanded goal of the season.

UAH had to withstand a continuous onslaught by the Huskies in the third period, partly because the Chargers couldn’t stay out of the penalty box. MTU had four power plays in the final frame, but couldn’t convert on any.

It wasn’t until a mistake at center ice led to a two-on-none that Tech was able to cut UAH’s lead to 3-2 with 2:10 left. Gavin Gould had an easy open net as Uhelski had no chance.

Tech was forced to pull Munson for the extra attacker, but Hans Gorowsky was able to score on the empty netter with 1:17 remaining to regain the two-goal advantage and the final 4-2 score. Brandon Salerno and John Teets got the assists.

UAH’s season-opening road swing continues next Friday and Saturday with a series at ECAC opponent Cornell.

UAH has got to beat Michigan Tech sometime. The Chargers have now made it a habit of getting close, but still need that key goal.

Michigan Tech rallied to beat UAH 5-4 on Friday in Houghton, Mich. in the WCHA conference opener for the Chargers. The Huskies (4-1-1 overall, 2-0-1 WCHA) are now 13-0-2 all-time against UAH (0-3-0 overall, 0-1-0 WCHA).

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The Chargers arguably played their best game against the 15th-ranked Huskies, and held a 4-3 lead at the halfway point of the third period. But UAH’s penalty kill struggles continued, allowing three power play goals, including the one that relinquished that lead.

Jordan Uhelski did all he could to keep victory within reach, making 33 saves, including some critical stops in the third.

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The game started inauspiciously for UAH, which is now 0-8-1 at Tech’s MacInnes Ice Arena.

A boarding call on Cam Knight just 25 seconds into the contest quickly put the Chargers on the penalty kill, which has struggled so far this season. And the struggles continued as Dane Birks’s blast from the left point put the Huskies up 1-0 at 1:41.

UAH weathered a cross-checking penalty on Brennan Saulnier before finally asserting itself on offense.

On a 3-on-2 break, Christian Rajic took a shot on Tech goaltender Patrick Munson from the high slot. Munson made the save on it and to rebound tries by Kurt Gosselin. The puck squirted out of the scramble to Rajic, who poked it past Munson’s right to tie the game with 13:15 left in the first.

Rajic’s goal, his first collegiate point, was assisted by Gosselin and Cam Knight.

The Huskies looked to take over the game with two goals in the middle of the second period. Mitch Reinke scored from near the blue line at 9:14, and Joel L’Esperance made it 3-1 Tech with yet another power play goal at the 13:16 mark.

The Chargers did not go away quietly, posting two power play goals of their own to finish off the second period. In fact, UAH was solid on that side of special teams, going 3-for-4 with the man advantage.

With 3:24 left, Saulnier notched his first goal of the season from Munson’s doorstep, deflecting a Brandon Salerno pass from the left point. Gosselin also got an assist on the play.

Josh Kestner tied the game at 3-3 with 1:14 remaining in the period. Tyler Poulsen took the puck in the right circle, waited for an opening, then slid it to Kestner in the left circle. Kestner then fired it top shelf past Munson for this second tally of the year. Knight was also credited with an assist.

L’Esperance almost put Tech up again in the final minute of the second, but Uhelski snatched the puck with his glove for a critical save.

At the end of two, it was even in just about every category. Each team had 20 shots on goal, three penalties, and two power play goals. UAH had a slight edge in faceoffs, 26-22.

With 12:29 left in the third, UAH took its only lead by converting its third straight power play opportunity. Kestner made a nifty pass to Poulsen in the right circle, close to the goal line, and found an opening past Munson.

Then came the Michigan Tech rally. After Gosselin was sent of for interference, Justin Misiak was left all alone on Uhelski’s doorstep, and Mark Auk found him. Misiak easily put in the equalizer with 9:48 left.

Then with 5:29 remaining, Jake Lucchini, who was earlier denied by Uhelski on a breakaway, scored the game-winner for MTU.

The Huskies outshot the Chargers 18-8 in the third and 38-28 for the game. Munson made 24 saves in net for Tech.

Game two of the series is Saturday at 6:07 p.m. CDT and can be seen on WCHA.tv.