Long Beach State right winger Boston Parcher fights for the puck against CSUN right winger Kevin Yousefpour at Lakewood ICE on Saturday, Nov. 15. The Beach were defeated by the Matadors 5-3. Ethan Cohen | Long Beach Current

Despite a fast start and several momentum-shifting saves from its goaltender, Long Beach State club hockey fell 5-3 to Cal State Northridge on Friday, Nov. 15 in a physical, high-intensity matchup at Lakewood ICE. 

LBSU struck first in the opening frame when senior forward Sean Mentzer cut through the middle and buried a shot from the right side, giving The Beach a 1-0 lead.

However, CSUN answered quickly, tying the game on a shot lifted over LBSU senior goaltender Adam Orozco. 

The period stayed hot, but the Beach regained the lead just before intermission when freshman defenseman CJ Theberge weaved through three CSUN defenders and finished a backhand with 39 seconds left, sending LBSU into the break up 2-1. 

The second period proved costly for The Beach.

Long Beach State center Nate Compton slapshots the puck toward the CSUN goal during a club game at Lakewood ICE on Saturday, Nov. 15. The Beach lost to the Matadors 5-3. Ethan Cohen | Long Beach Current

 After matching penalties led to four-on-four play, CSUN capitalized on a turnover and scored to tie the game 2-2. Moments later, more pressure from the Matadors produced rapid back-to-back goals, beating the buzzer before the period ended to make it 4-2. 

The Beach started the final frame with energy, drawing consecutive power plays. Freshman forward Boston Parcher finally broke through, ripping a power play goal to cut the deficit to 4-3.

But CSUN responded by tightening up defensively, extending the lead on continued pressure in front of the net, making it 5-3 with just over half the period remaining. 

Throughout the night, Orozco kept The Beach in it, making several standout stops, including a glove save on a Matador breakaway and multiple key penalty-kill saves as tension escalated. 

Many fights broke out throughout the game, keeping the benches heated. 

“I love the intensity and I love the effort, and I want the guys to battle, but we take a couple penalties there and we want to stay out of the box, but I’d rather have the intensity than not,” senior captain James Mcguire said. 

Long Beach State forward JT Hester attempts to score during a club game against CSUN at Lakewood ICE on Saturday, Nov. 15. Ethan Cohen | Long Beach Current

LBSU earned one last power play with 1:52 left, but could not convert, allowing CSUN to secure the win 5-3. 

That’s a good team that has won against some tough teams in a division above us; I’m super proud of the effort,” Mcguire said. “The boys did it in a couple of mental lapses, but if we clean that up, we think we can take that competition any day.”

LBSU will look to bounce back when it returns to the ice on Friday, Nov. 21, for a matchup against the University of San Diego.