ANCHORAGE - A trio of freshmen ? Josh Lunden, Paul Crowder and Kevin Clark - scored goals and junior netminder Nathan Lawson had 16 saves to lead Alaska Anchorage to a 3-2 win over Michigan Tech in a crucial WCHA contest at the Sullivan Arena tonight.
The victory snapped a seven-game WCHA winless skid for the Seawolves (11-11-3, 7-11-1 WCHA), who moved into a sixth-place tie with idle Wisconsin in the league standings. Michigan Tech (10-13-2, 5-10-2 WCHA) fell into a tie for ninth in conference play with the loss.
UAA's power play came alive for the first time in four games, connecting for two scores on five attempts, breaking an 0-for-23 drought with the man advantage. The Huskies went 1-for-5 on the power play, with their score coming while holding a two-man advantage.
Crowder notched his team-leading 10th goal of the season off a Justin Bourne rebound at 6:19 of the first giving the 'Wolves the early 1-0 lead. Bourne powered a shot at Husky goalie Rob Nolan (16 saves) that took a large bounce to a waiting Crowder at the left post.
MTU would answer with a 5-on-3 power-play tally by defenseman Lars Helminen at 10:37 of the period knotting the game at 1-1.
The Seawolves would regain the lead at the 13:09 mark of the second while skating with a two-man advantage when Lunden would punch the puck into the net from just above the crease. Crowder collected his second point of the night with the first assist, while sophomore defenseman Mat Robinson would be credited with the second assist.
Clark cashed in the eventual game winner with UAA's second power-play score of the game at 8:12 of the third, giving the Seawolves a two-goal advantage at 3-1. Senior defenseman Mark Smith set up the game-clinching score by feathering a pass down from the right point to Clark who was set up at the left post. Junior Merit Waldrop earned the second assist on the score.
The Huskies crept to within one on Malcolm Gwilliam's evenstrength goal at 13:52, but the Seawolves would hold off MTU for the remainder of the period to earn the win and two points.
UAA, who outshot Tech 19-18, is now 8-4-1 on home ice this season.
The regular-season finale between the Seawolves and Huskies will face off at 7:07 p.m. Saturday at the Sully.
