COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Two goals and an assist by junior
forward Sean Wiles led the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves over the No. 5 Colorado
College Tigers in overtime, 3-2, for their first Western Collegiate Hockey
Association road victory of the season on Saturday at the World Sports Arena.
Freshman forward Daniel Naslund scored the game-winner in overtime,
giving UAA (6-10-0, 4-8-0 WCHA) its first win in Colorado Springs since Dec. 8,
2006 (5-4 OT) and just its second win ever at the World Sports Arena. With the
win, the Seawolves break a six-game winning streak for the Tigers (10-3-1, 7-2-1
WCHA).
After a scoreless first period, the Tigers took the initial
1-0 lead early in the second period on a power play goal by senior Nate Prosser
before Wiles netted a goal with 33 seconds remaining in the second to even the
score at 1-1.
With just a minute, 23 seconds expired on the clock in the
third frame, Wiles struck again, giving UAA the 2-1 lead with his fifth tally
of the season and second multi-goal game of the season. Freshman forward Mickey Spencer and senior forward Trevor Hunt each picked up helpers on both of Wiles'
tallies.
The Seawolves were able to kill off three CC power plays in the third,
including 1:44 of a five-on-three situation, before junior Stephen Schultz tied
the game at 2-2 with a goal at 19:28, sending the game into extra minutes.
The full five minutes of overtime weren't needed as
Naslund picked up junior forward Tommy Grant's rebound at the one-minute mark
for the win – his second goal of the season. Wiles was credited with the second
assist on the play.
The Seawolves were kept in the game by senior goaltender Jon Olthuis (3-5-0), who recorded 26 saves in the game and 13 saves in the first
period for the win. After posting his second-career shutout last night,
freshman netminder Joe Howe (9-2-1) posted 32 saves in the loss.
The Seawolves peppered Howe with a season-high 35 shots in the game and
a season-high 15 on net in the second period. The Tigers were held to 28 shots
on goal.
The Tigers were 1-6 on the power play, while UAA was scoreless
on the man advantage for the second straight night (0-5). UAA was tagged for
eight penalties, serving 16 minutes, while CC was 7-14.
The Seawolves, who were without senior forward Josh Lunden
and junior defenseman Luka Vidmar due to injuries, recorded their first
come-from-behind victory of the season.
The Seawolves advance to No. 8 in the league standings with
eight points, while CC remains tied for first in the conference with Denver (15
points).
The Seawolves return to Anchorage to face the St. Could
State Huskies in the final series before the Christmas break on Dec. 4-5. The
puck is scheduled to drop at 7:07 p.m. on both nights.
