BOX SCORE

DULUTH, Minn. – The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves were handed their third straight loss in their Western Collegiate Hockey Association opener with a 3-2 overtime defeat by No. 5/6 Minnesota Duluth on Friday night at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.

For the first time of the season the Seawolves (1-3-1, 0-1-0 WCHA) were the first to strike, but it would be a back-and-forth battled for the rest of regulation play before the Bulldogs (4-0-1, 1-0-0 WCHA) tallied the game-winning goal with just 31 seconds expired on the clock in overtime.

Getting UAA on the board early was senior forward Tommy Grant at 3:26 of the first. Senior forward Sean Wiles got control of the puck and passed it up ice to Grant for a breakaway. Grant, from North Vacouver, B.C., was able to convert on UMD's netminder, Kenny Reiter, giving the Seawolves a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs would respond with the first of two goals by junior Mike Connolly, just 59 seconds into the second frame to tie the game.

Freshman defenseman Wes McLeod returned the lead back to the Seawolves at 7:08 with his first collegiate goal. Classmates Jordan Kwas and Mark Pustin each picked up helpers.

UMD registered the final tally in regulation by Connolly at 13:49 of the second. Both teams received huge saves from their goaltenders in the third, keeping the game tied at 2-2.

The Seawolves had an opportunity to win it in the final minutes of the third when UMD's J.T. Brown was tagged for charging the goalie and sent to the box for a two-minute minor with 2:14 left on the clock. UAA was unable to capitalize on the man advantage though, sending the game into extra minutes.

Brown netted the game-winner at 4:29 of overtime.

Making his third collegiate start between the pipes for the Seawolves was rookie goaltender Rob Gunderson (1-2-0). The Lethbridge, Alberta, native made 22 saves in the loss, while Reiter (3-0-1) received the win with 23 stops. Gunderson was also credited with the second assist on Grant's goal.

UAA recorded a season-low-tying three penalties for six minutes, while UMD was 4-for-8. The Seawolves and Bulldogs were tied in shots at 24-24 going into OT, before UMD added one more with the goal.

Both Grant and Kwas improved their point streak to five games. Grant's goal tonight gives him a career-high five-game point streak. Tonight's defeat is UAA's first in five games at the DECC and third straight game with a one-goal loss.

 The Seawolves will look to redeem themselves on Saturday in the rematch at 4:07 p.m. ADT.