ANCHORAGE – Winston DayChief scored a pair of goals, including the eventual game-winner, as Alaska Anchorage completed a weekend sweep of arch-rival Alaska Fairbanks with a 5-3 win in the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup series at Sullivan Arena on Satuday.
The Seawolves (3-0-1) got four of their five goals from freshmen to take control in the four-game fight for the Cup. The teams will meet again Dec. 28 and 29 in Fairbanks, with UAA needing merely a tie to clinch defense of last year's title.
The Nanooks (0-2-0) took the early lead Saturday on Landon Novotney's rebound goal just 22 seconds into the game, but the Seawolves would dominate from that point on.
UAA got the equalizer with 25 seconds left in the first when freshman Craig Parkinson banged in the rebound from Josh Lunden's shot. It was Parkinson's third goal of the season, while Lunden picked up his fourth assist and fellow sophomore Kevin Clark tallied his team-high sixth helper.
The Seawolves grabbed the lead on DayChief's goal nine minutes into the second period, again off a rebound. This time the assist went to defenseman Trevor Hunt, his first of the year. Another rookie, Luka Vidmar, made it 3-1 four minutes later as the Slovenian took advantage of assists from Parkinson and Hunt.
DayChief added the game-winner, on the power play, at the 18:56 mark of the second as junior Shane Lovdahl and freshman Tommy Grant earned their first assists.
Dion Knelson cut it to 4-2 with a power-play tally 13 minutes into the third, but sophomore Paul Crowder earned an unassisted goal – his first of 2007-08 – with 2:41 left to calm the home fans' nerves.
Newcomer Matthew Gordon made 12 saves to earn a win in his first career game, while Wylie Rogers took the loss in net. UAA outshot UAF 35-15.
The win extended a pair of impressive unbeaten streaks – six against UAF, and 10 in non-conference games – for UAA. It was also the Seawolves' fifth straight victory over the Nanooks at Sullivan.
UAA begins Western Collegiate Hockey Association play next week with home games against Minnesota State (0-2-0). Friday's contests faces off at 7:37 p.m., while Saturday's begins at 7:07.
