ANCHORAGE - Sophomore Josh Lunden tallied two goals, including the game-tying score with two minutes remaining in regulation to help Alaska Anchorage forge a come-from-behind 4-4 tie with No. 8-ranked Boston University tonight in the final game of the 2007 Nye Frontier Classic.
The Seawolves came back from 1-0, 3-2 and 4-3 deficits before forcing overtime and the eventual tie. Despite going unbeaten at 1-0-1, UAA wasn't able to successfully defend its Classic title, which went to upstart Robert Morris from College Hockey America, who went a perfect 2-0-0. The Terriers, who won the 1999 Classic title, were 0-1-1 in their two games.
Senior Peter Cartwright and sophomore Kevin Clark each registered two assists and sophomore goalie Jon Olthuis recorded 26 saves in a solid effort to stay unbeaten at 1-0-1 for the Seawolves.
UAA found itself in an early hole after surrendering a goal to BU's Bryan Ewing just 17 seconds into the game, but would strike back with goals from freshman Winston DayChief at 5:44 and Lunden on the power-play at 18:07 to grab a 2-1 advantage at the first break. Freshmen Craig Parkinson and Kane Lafranchise were awarded assists on DayChief's first collegiate goal while Cartwight and Clark earned the helpers on UAA's second score.
As was the case with the opening period, BU would score early in the second on a Matt Gilroy strike at 1:25, tying the game at 2-2. Ryan Monaghan would find the back of the net 4:03 later from the low left slot to regive the Terriers a one-goal edge at 3-2.
BU's lead would last for nearly the next 12 minutes of the period before senior Chris Tarkir would swoop across the slot for his first score of the young season at 17:21, knotting the game at 3-3 heading into the final period.
A five-minute major for checking-from-behind by McCabe at the end of the second left UAA a player short for the first five minutes of the third, however the Seawolves would kill off the entire penalty. A second checking-from-behind major to Blair Tassone gave BU its second five-minute man-advantage of the period. The Terriers wouldn't be denied a second time as Ewing would bury his second goal of the night on the power play at 12:22.
With time running out on a late power-play chance for the Seawolves, a UAA rush would end with a dart from Lunden getting past BU goalie Brett Bennett (19)at the 18:00 mark, tying the game for good at 4-4. Clark found a charging Lunden up the right side, who burried the puck for his third goal of the season.
BU would attempt three shots in the overtime, while UAA would fire just one. The Terriers, who outshot UAA 30-23, went 1-for-7 on the power play while the 'Wolves would go 2-for-6.
Lunden, who tallied 3-2--5 scoring totals in two Classic games, was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
UAA returns home next weekend for the first two games of the annual Alaska Airline's Governor's Cup series against rival Alaska Fairbanks. The puck drops at 7:37 p.m. Friday and 7:07 p.m. Saturday.
2007 Nye Frontier Classic All-Tournament team:
Jason Towsley - RMU
Colin Wilson - BU
Kevin Clark - UAA
Christian Boucher - RMU
Matt Gilroy - BU
Ryan Cruthers - RMU
Most Outstanding Player: Josh Lunden - UAA
t
