ANCHORAGE ? The Alaska Anchorage hockey team wrapped up its regular-season schedule with a 4-1 home loss to #17 Minnesota tonight at Sullivan Arena, as the Golden Gophers would tally a pair of goals in both the first and third periods to clinch a three-point weekend.
Junior defenseman Mat Robinson provided UAA's only scoring highlight of the night, while sophomore goalie Jon Olthuis recorded 19 saves on the defensive end.
The Seawolves (7-19-8, 3-19-6 WCHA), who went scoreless on five power-play chances, trailed 2-0 at the end of the first period as Mike Hoeffel (8:58) and Evan Kauffman (11:50) would light the lamp for Minnesota (14-13-9, 8-11-7 WCHA).
Robinson received a spot-on pass at the left post from Josh Lunden at 18:58 of the second, cutting the Gopher lead in half entering the final frame. The tally was the third of the season for Robinson, who leads all UAA blueliners in points with a career-best 13.
UAA's rally attempt was cut short at the 7:51 mark of the third as Minnesota's Mike Howe would burry a power-play goal extending the Gopher advantage back to two at 3-1. Ben Gordon would end the scoring with an empty-net goal at 16:30.
The ?Wolves, who held a 12-4 shot advantage in the third, were also held scoreless on three power-play chances during the final frame.
The Seawolves, who are winless in their last nine games (0-7-2), owned a 27-23 edge in shots but would go 0-for-5 on the power play. Minnesota ended the night 1-for-3 with the man advantage.
Lunden registered his team-best 24th point with the first assist on UAA's goal, while senior Blair Tassone snagged his eighth assist of the season with the second helper in his final game on home ice.
Minnesota's Alex Kangas recorded 26 saves while earning his seventh win of the season.
UAA, which is idle next weekend, will face either Colorado College or North Dakota for its WCHA first round playoff series Mar. 14-16.
