COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ? Colorado College moved one step closer to earning a trip to the 2008 WCHA Final Five by downing Alaska Anchorage 4-1 in game 1 of the team's WCHA first round playoff series Friday night at the World Arena.
Freshman Brad McCabe notched his seventh goal of the season and sophomore Jon Olthuis recorded 16 saves for the Seawolves (7-20-3, 3-19-6 WCHA), but the No. 3-ranked Tigers (27-9-1, 21-6-1 WCHA) would close out the game with three unanswered goals to break a 1-1 deadlock and earn their fifth victory over UAA this season.
CC jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on an even-strength tally from Mike Testwuide just 37 seconds into the game and would hold a slim one-goal edge for the remainder of the first period despite being outshot 10-5.
The Seawolves would knot the score at 1-1 on a power-play strike from McCabe 2:15 into the second frame, but the Tigers would regain the lead with just over two minutes remaining in the period on a score from Tyler Johnson at the 18:06 mark.
Scott Thauwald pushed CC's lead to two goals with an even-strength marker at 2:47 of the third period before Scott McCulloch would ice the contest with an empty netter at 19:39.
UAA, which outshot the Tigers 28-20, including 10-5 in the opening period, went 1-for-2 on the power play. CC was scoreless on four attempts with the man advantage.
Sophomore Josh Lunden collected his 25th point of the season with the first assist on UAA's lone score, while freshman defenseman Kane Lafranchise earned his fifth assist of the season with the second helper.
Tiger netminder freshman Richard Bachman made 27 saves for the win.
The Seawolves will try to fend off elimination in game 2 of the best-of-three series Saturday at 5:07 p.m. (Alaska)
