MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- An overtime goal from junior defenseman Luke Beaverson silenced a capacity crowd at the Mariucci Arena and sent Alaska Anchorage players jumping off the bench in celebration as the Seawolves stunned No. 2-ranked Minnesota with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in Game 2 of its WCHA first round playoff series here tonight.
Freshman Josh Lunden tied the game at 1-1 with 3:35 remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime, before Beaverson would rifle a shot into the net 5:45 into the extra period to force a deciding third game Sunday in the best-of-3 series.
Junior goaltender Nathan Lawson played one of his best games of the season by stopping 25 shots, including thwarting off all 15 he faced in the second period. The Calgary, Alberta product recorded a season-best .961 save percentage while earning his 10th win of the season.
Down one goal and with the season on the line late in the third, the Seawolves (13-20-3) would finally break onto the scoreboard at the 16:25 mark when Lunden would find the back of the net with his 11th goal of the season. A shot attempt from freshman Kevin Clark bounced back to a waiting Lunden who was perfectly positioned in front of the Minnesota (27-9-3) net.
Lunden, who was playing in just his second game back after sitting out the last six games of the regular season with an injury, tallied his 11th-goal of the season on the score. Clark and freshman Nils Backstrom recorded the assists on the equalizer.
The Seawolves carried their momentum into the overtime by controlling the puck in the Minnesota end for a good portion of the action. Senior Chad Anderson nearly ended the game four minutes into the overtime, but his shot bounced off the post.
A turnover by Minnesota led to a pass out from senior Charlie Kronschnabel to Beaverson at the point, who's shot deflected off a Gopher player in front of the net and past goalie Kellen Briggs (26 saves) for the game winner. The goal was the fifth of the season for the native Minnesotan, one of three on UAA's roster.
Kronschnabel and senior Justin Bourne collected the assists on the game-winning overtime goal.
UAA outshot Minnesota a combined 14-4 in the third period and overtime session, while ending the game with a 28-26 advantage in shots. The 'Wolves also held a 9-7 edge in shots in the first frame.
The Gophers lone goal came on the power play from Kyle Okposo at the 15:34 mark of the opening period.
Minnesota ended the game 1-for-7 with the man advantage while the Seawolves were scoreless on all six of their power-play opportunities.
The victory snapped UAA's nine-game losing streak to the Gophers and also ended its four-game drought in the WCHA playoffs. The Seawolves are now 4-28 all-time in the first round of the WCHA playoffs, but are 4-6 the last last four seasons. UAA defeated Wisconsin 2-1 in Game 2 of its playoff series in 2005 for its last WCHA postseason win.
Minnesota had won 17 straight WCHA first round playoff games prior to its loss to UAA tonight.
The Seawolves and Gophers will meet for a chance to advance to the WCHA Final Five in Sunday's deciding Game 3 at 4:07 p.m. (Alaska)
