DULUTH, Minn. ? Sophomore Jay Beagle tallied two goals and freshman goaltender Jon Olthuis made 34 saves, but a three-goal second period by Minnesota Duluth would prove to be the difference as the homestanding Bulldogs pulled into a ninth-place tie with Alaska Anchorage by skating to a 3-2 victory tonight at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.
For the second consecutive Friday contest the Seawolves (12-18-3, 8-18-1 WCHA) would surrender three goals in a period as UMD (11-18-4, 7-15-3 WCHA) would score three times in 6:07 span to take a commanding 3-0 lead midway through the second frame.
Bryan McGreger scored the first of his two power-play tallies at the 3:56 mark of the second, breaking a scoreless tie. MacGregor Sharp built the Bulldog lead to 2-0 with an evenstrenth strike at 6:16 before McGreger's second power-play score at 10:03 would give UMD a 3-0 lead.
WCHA assist leader Mason Raymond picked up helpers on all three scores, giving him 28 on the season.
The Bulldogs, who connected on 2-of-3 power-play oppportunities in the second, held an 18-8 advantage in shots in the period.
Beagle finally broke the ice for the Seawolves with the first of his two goals at the 5:50 mark of the third, making the score 3-1. The Calgary, Alberta product pulled UAA to within a goal on an extra-attacker score with 35 seconds remaining in regulation, but time would run out on the 'Wolves come back hopes as UMD would hold on for the win.
UAA went scoreless on the power play at 0-for-4 and were outshot 37-27. The Bulldogs, who own the top power-play unit in the league, finished the game 2-for-5 with the man advantage.
Freshman Kevin Clark and senior Charlie Kronschnabel were credited with assists on Beagle's first goal, while junior Peter Cartwright and sophomore Mat Robinson collected assists on the second score.
Olthuis, who was making second straight start in net for UAA, dropped to 3-5-1 with the loss. UMD goalie Josh Johnson recorded 25 saves.
The Seawolves and Bulldogs, who are tied with 17 points in the WCHA standings, face each other in the series finale Saturday at 4:37 p.m. The game is also UAA's final regular-season tilt of the year.
