MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Alaska Anchorage scored three third-period goals within a 3:58 span to complete a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over No. 12-ranked Minnesota tonight here at Mariucci Arena, earning its first Western Collegiate Hockey Association win of the season.
The Seawolves, who improved to 4-3-3 overall and 1-3-2 in conference play with the win, fought back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits before grabbing the lead for good on sophomore Kevin Clark's eventual game winner at 7:53 of the final frame.
Senior forward Peter Cartwright and freshman defenseman Kane Lafranchise each tallied a goal and an assist, while senior Blair Tassone chipped in two assists to lead UAA's offensive efforts.
For the second consecutive game and sixth time in his career sophomore goaltender Jon Olthuis recorded 30 or more saves, stopping 30 of 32 shots to earn his third win of the season. After allowing two goals on 18 shots through the first two periods, the Neerlandia, Alberta product stoned all 12 Minnesota attempts on net in the deciding third period.
Minnesota (7-5-0, 3-5-0 WCHA) took the first lead of the night on Jay Barriball's second score of the season at 10:58 of the first, but UAA would counter on Lafranchise's first-collegiate goal at 15:56, knotting the game at 1-1. Cartwright and Tassone earned the helpers on the score.
UAA controlled most of the action in the Gopher's zone during the second period, but back-to-back Seawolf penalties, including a five-minute checking from behind call on freshman Luka Vidmar, would force most of the action back in front of the Seawolf net.
Minnesota would eventually break through with a power-play goal in the waning seconds of its five-minute man-advantage on a one-timer from Kyle Okposo at 18:43, putting the Gophers up 2-1 at the second break.
Despite surrendering the power-play score, the ?Wolves were able to kill off three of four penalties in the second 20 minutes of action.
Cartwright started UAA's third-period rally with his first goal of the season at the 6:04 mark of the third, tying the game at 2-2. Senior Chris Tarkir skated the puck into the zone on an odd-man rush before feeding a perfect pass across the slot to a charging Cartwright at the right circle. The pass froze Gopher goalie Jeff Frazee (21 saves) leaving a wide open net. Tassone collected his second assist of the night on the goal.
Another hard-charging two-man rush by the Seawolves would result in the eventual game-winning tally just 1:49 later as Clark would find the back of the net while falling to his knees, giving UAA its first lead of the night at 3-2. Clark started the rush with a pass into the zone to sophomore Josh Lunden, who after running down the puck centered it back to Clark who fought off a Gopher defender before flicking a backhander past Frazee.
UAA would add an insurance goal on a redirect from freshman Brad McCabe at 10:02, giving it a two-goal cushion. Lafranchise fired a slapper toward the net from the left point that McCabe was able to get his blade on and direct into the back of the net. Freshman Winston DayChief earned his sixth point of the season with the second assist.
The win, the Seawolves' second in its last four games played at Mariucci Arena, put a halt to its season-long five-game winless skid.
Minnesota held a decisive advantage in minutes played on the power play, skating 13 minutes, 4 seconds with the man advantage to UAA's four seconds of power-play time. The Seawolves, who were 0-for-1 with the man advantage, killed off six of seven penalties.
The Seawolves, who were outshot 32-25, have earned at least one point in all three WCHA series this season.
UAA is idle next weekend before returning to action Nov. 30-Dec.1 at home against league-leading Colorado College.
