TEMPE, Ariz. – Western Michigan dropped its first conference game in regulation on Friday night at Mullett Arena. Arizona State defeated the Broncos by a final score of 5-3. 

Samuel Sjolund, Alex Bump and Zach Nehring had the goals for the Brown and Gold. Cameron Rowe made 27 saves in net. 

FIRST PERIOD
The Broncos blitzed the Sun Devils early, getting multiple good looks on net. Owen Michaels, Bump and Liam Valente had the best chances in that flurry. After some back-and-forth action, ASU would get on the board to make it 1-0. 

Just over a minute later, Arizona State tallied another goal to make it 2-0 with under nine minutes to play in the opening frame. Following that goal, WMU would earn the game's first power play. ASU was sent off for tripping. 

Valente would get a pair of looks on the man advantage, but the Sun Devils worked back to full strength. The Broncos trailed 2-0 heading to the middle frame. 

SECOND PERIOD
WMU set the tone in the second period, getting the first few good looks of the period. Eventually, Sjolund ripped one from the point that found the back of the net. His second goal of the season brought the Broncos back within one just over six minutes into the period. 

Not even 20 seconds after that, ASU was sent off for hooking. On the man advantage, Western Michigan got five shots on net. However, the Sun Devils would work back to even strength. That didn't stop WMU's offense from staying hot. 

Just under 10 minutes into the period, Bump got a nice pass from Michaels and ripped a shot over the shoulder of the ASU goaltender to knot the game at 2-2. The goal was Bump's team-leading 15th of the season. 

With under six minutes to play in the middle frame, the Sun Devils moved back in front. Western Michigan would get a few more quality looks on net down the stretch and headed to the final period trailing by one. 

THIRD PERIOD
Rowe opened the final period of play by making a flurry of good saves. That kept the Broncos within one. That led to the Brown and Gold tying the game, as Nehring chipped a puck into the back of the net off of a nice feed from Grant Slukynsky. 

However, ASU was able to push right back in front just a few minutes later. Following that goal, Western Michigan went right back on the attack. Ty Henricks and Robby Drazner had shots saved in the middle portion of the period. 

Down the stretch, WMU would pull its goalie to get the extra skater. On a faceoff in the offensive zone, the Broncos won the puck back and it slid all the way into the empty net to make it 5-3. The Sun Devils would close out the game with that score.

UP NEXT
Western Michigan will look to bounce back tomorrow night in the series finale. Puck drop is set for 7 PM EST at Mullett Arena.