The Sacramento State Hockey Team notched a win against rival UC Davis Saturday night winning by a score of 4-3. The rivalry was apparent between the two teams in a game that saw 27 penalties committed.

The game was the second in consecutive nights between the two teams. Both games were separated by one goal as the Aggies won the first meeting by a score of 5-4.

“The guys came out and knew what they had to do (tonight). They knew what they did wrong the night before and they came out and did it right this time,” said Hornets junior center Ryan Siler.

Penalty killing was a problem for the Hornets when they lost to the Aggies on Friday. The team allowed three power play goals in that game but only one Saturday night.

“Penalty killing was awesome. That’s what we had trouble with last night,” said Siler. “That’s where they got most of their goals and it’s what led to the loss last night.”

The Hornets dashed out of the gate scoring a goal less than four minutes into the game off the stick of senior center Kevin Bean.

Aggies freshman winger Keisuke Teeple tied the game up when he scored a power play goal on a rebound less than five minutes later. The Aggies took the lead early in the second period when freshman winger Alex Sloan slipped the puck past Hornet goaltender Christian Walsh.

Siler knotted the game at 2-2 when the Aggies sophomore goaltender Jonathan Drinnan was caught outside the crease. Siler credited his teammate, sophomore winger Kyle Klaski, for getting him the puck allowing him to score.

“Kyle Klaski worked his butt off to get that puck to me. That guy deserves all the credit?I was just in the right place at the right time,” said Siler.

Junior center Chase Turner scored less than five minutes into the third period on a wrist shot assisted by freshman defenseman Raymond Gsell. It took the Aggies less than a minute to answer back and tie up the game again when Teeple scored his second goal of the game.

The Hornets got the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal when Gsell made an athletic move to get by a defender and hit a wrist shot by Drinnan.

“I just took the puck and saw a lane open, I made one toe drag real quick a slid it in,” said Gsell.

Hornets Head Coach Tom Bowen made some key changes in the lineup Saturday night playing junior Jamison Meikle as a defenseman and moving freshman Gsell to center.

“He wanted to shake things up,” said Siler. “Moving Gsell up was definitely a plus. (Jamison) did a real good job on defense delivering some hard hit and Gsell put in the game winner.”

The Hornet will not play a game again until 7 p.m. on Jan. 12 when they host the Fresno State Bulldogs. at the Skatetown Ice Arena in Roseville.

Andrew Eggers can be reached at [email protected]