GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Alaska Anchorage netminder Chris Kamal
made a career-high-tying 30 saves in net, but it wasn't enough as No. 4-ranked
North Dakota opened up Western Collegiate Hockey Association play with a 4-1
win in front of 11, 446 fans at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Following a scoreless opening stanza, North Dakota (2-1-0,
1-0-0 WCHA) peppered the Seawolves (2-2-1, 0-1-0 WCHA) with three goals in the
first half of the second, before senior forward Alex Gellert (Kelwona, B.C.)
gave UAA its lone goal, just 22 seconds before UND netted its fourth.
After leading 14-2 for shots on goal in the first, North
Dakota was able to capitalize in the first seven minutes of the second frame.
Corbin Knight opened the scoring with his first of the season at 1:10 when he
attempted to pass out from behind the net and hit freshman Blake Leask's skate
for the 1-0 lead.
At 4:46, UND's Rocco Grimaldi set up a 2-on-1 and connected
with Drake Caggiula, before Carter Rowney tipped Dillon Simpson's shot from the
point at 6:58 on the man advantage.
The Seawolves, who led UND in face-offs 28-21, saw a Grade A
scoring chance at 14:27 when Gellert stripped the puck from the defense and
entered the North Dakota zone on a partial breakaway. Zane Gothberg, making his
first collegiate start, made the stop but Gellert would get his retribution later
following a 2-on-2 man rush.
Rookie Blake Tatchell (North Battleford, Saskatchewan) patiently
skated through the UND zone and got a shot off on Gothberg, who the made the
initial save. With UND scrambling in front of the net and Gothberg low and out
of position, Gellert fired high to end the shutout at 15:39. Sophomore Kory Roy
also assisted on Gellert's third of the season.
Just 22 seconds later, North Dakota responded at 16:01 with
a sniper shot by Derek Forbort returning UND to its three-goal lead.
Kamal, from Alpharetta, Ga., tied his career-high from Jan.
29, 2011 against Minnesota with 30 stops, while Gothbert turned aside 17. UND
outshot UAA, 34-18.
Both the Seawolves and North Dakota were whistled for five
penalties, serving 10 minutes, with UND scoring the only power-play tally.
UAA and UND will rematch tomorrow at 4:07 p.m. ADT. The game
can be viewed online at GCI Channel 1 or on Fox College Sports Central, or can
be heard on KTZN 550 AM with play-by-play by Kurt Haider.
SEAWOLF NOTES: Alex Gellert, who has a team-high-tying three
goals and a two-game goal streak, has already bypassed his goal total from the
past two seasons combined and is currently tied with his rookie season in
2009-10.
