FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves couldn't find the equalizer in the final period of play and dropped their first game of the season against the No. 18 Colorado College Tigers in non-conference play at the Brice Alaska Goal Rush Tournament that was held at the Carlson Center on Friday.
Colorado College (2-0-1), a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with UAA (1-1-1), started the ping pong goal fest that was the first period with a combined five goals before each team added a goal apiece in the second and went scoreless in the final frame.
The Tigers opened up the scoring with just one minute, 33 seconds expired on the clock off the stick of Anchorage native sophomore William Rapuzzi. UAA responded and tied the game at 1-1 with sophomore forward Mitch Bruijsten's first goal of the season at 7:53. Freshmen forwards Brett Cameron and Matt Bailey picked up the helpers.
Junior Tim Hall returned the lead to the Tigers at 12:24 but UAA came right back with sophomore defenseman Curtis Leinweber's second goal of the year at 12:57 to tie the game back up at 2-2.
With rookie Mark Pustin serving a two-minute minor for slashing and CC's rookie goaltender Josh Thorimbert on the bench for a delayed penalty, the Tigers enjoyed their first power-play opportunity of the game and capitalized on it at 14:29 with the extra-attacker strike by senior Tyler Johnson.
The second period started with UAA trailing by one but it wouldn't last as the Seawolves came back for the third time of the night with their first power-play goal of the season. Freshman forward Jordan Kwas netted his first collegiate goal on the man advantage at 3:10 of the second with the help of senior forward Tommy Grant and sophomore Scott Warner.
At 9:03 the Tigers added their second power-play goal of the game by sophomore forward Andrew Hamburg giving CC the final 4-3 score before going into the second intermission. The Seawolves battled for the equalizer in the third, but came up short.
Suiting up for his second collegiate game with the Green & Gold was freshman goaltender Rob Gunderson. A local of Lethridge, Alberta, Gunderson made 23 saves in his first loss, while Thorimbert made16 saves.
UAA was 1-4 on the power play, while CC scored two man-advantage tallies in six attempts.
Junior defenseman Brad Gorham will miss Saturday night's contest against Union after receiving a five-minute major for contact to the head and a 10-mintue game disqualification at 11:54 of the second period.
Later tonight Alaska Fairbanks will host the No. 16 Union Dutchmen at 8:05 p.m. AST. The Seawolves will face the Dutchmen at 4:05 p.m. AST on Saturday in game three of the Brice Alaska Goal Rush Tournament - the first ever meeting between the two teams.
