ANCHORAGE? With just 17 seconds into overtime, the No. 9 North Dakota Fighting Sioux downed the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, 2-1 in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game at the Sullivan Arena in front of 3,679 spectators on Friday night. Junior Josh Lunden sent the game into overtime with his 11th tally of the season in the third period.
North Dakota's Chay Genoway snagged a heart-wrenching game winner in overtime to keep the Fighting Sioux tied for first with Denver in the WCHA standings with 31 points. The Seawolves posted their second overtime defeat of the season and remain in ninth place in the conference with 19 points.
Even with the Seawolves (10-14-5, 7-13-5 WCHA) placing two shots on net before North Dakota (19-11-3, 14-6-3 WCHA), it was the Fighting Sioux who struck first with a power play goal by Brett Hextall with 7:57 left in the first period. With freshman Tyler Moir in the box for interference, Hextall grabbed a rebounded shot from Ryan Duncan and sent the puck over UAA's goaltender, Bryce Christianson's shoulder for his ninth tally of the season.
The Seawolves defense stepped up, allowing just one shot by UND in the first half of the period before giving the Sioux three shots in the last few minutes before intermission. UAA managed to fight off a power play by North Dakota in the last three minutes after senior Mat Robinson was tagged for tripping. Missed scoring opportunities by Alaska Anchorage, kept the score at 1-0 after two.
UAA went on the power play at 4:18 of the third, but the Fighting Sioux killed the penalty, keeping the Seawolves scrambling for the puck and away from the net.
With 9:43 to go in the game, UAA got on the board with an even strength goal by Lunden. Junior Kevin Clark skated the puck into Sioux territory and headed around the right side of the net, where he found senior Mat Robinson closing in. UND netminder Brad Eidsness was there to block Robinson's shot, sending the puck into the hands of Lunden. Eidsness wasn't able to stop Lunden, sending the game into overtime.
Eidsness recorded the victory with 25 saves, while Christianson dropped his record below .500 at 5-6-4. Christianson made 20 saves in the defeat.
The Seawolves were able to outshoot the Sioux, 26-22, including a 12-8 advantage in the third period.
UAA was 0-3 on the power play, while UND were 1-for-4 on the man-advantage. The Seawolves were whistled for six penalties and the Sioux were sent to the box for five.
The Seawolves will rematch with the Fighting Sioux tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m. at Sully.
