ST. CLOUD, Minn. - Minnesota native Eric Scheid
scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in overtime, as Alaska
Anchorage earned a thrilling 3-2 victory over St. Cloud State in Western
Collegiate Hockey Association action Friday.
The Seawolves (8-19-2, 5-19-1 WCHA) also got a goal from junior Daniel Naslund
as they won for the first time ever at the National Hockey Center and snapped a
34-game winless streak in St. Cloud.
The Huskies (12-15-4-, 9-11-3) got goals from Jarrod Rabey and Ben Hanowski,
but the home team could not solve Seawolf goaltender Rob Gunderson when it
mattered most, with Gunderson posting 24 saves and stopping all three St. Cloud
power-play chances.
All three of UAA's goals came from rebounds off SCSU netminder Mike Lee, who
allowed Scheid to even the score at 1-1 when he couldn't corral freshman Scott
Allen's slap shot midway through the second period.
Naslund then gave UAA a 2-1 advantage halfway through the third period when he
converted the rebound off Jade Portwood's shot. It was Naslund's fourth goal of
the season and the 10th of his career. Freshman defenseman Corbin Karl also
picked up his first career assist on the play.
The Huskies tied it with just over six minutes left on Hanowski's 18th goal of
the season, and UAA survived a Husky power play over the last 1:50 of
regulation to send the game to the extra session.
After killing the last 10 seconds of the man advantage, both teams got off a
pair of shots before UAA put on its winning rush. The play happened when Jordan
Kwas corralled the puck deep in the Seawolf zone and fed up-ice to a streaking
Scheid, who skated into the zone and left a drop pass for Allen. Scheid
immediately rushed to the net, where he was there to deflect Allen's shot past
a sprawling Lee.
Kwas picked up his eighth assist of the season, playing in his first game since
December. The sophomore center from Cochrane, Alberta, regained his academic
eligibility earlier this week.
For Scheid, from an hour down the road in Blaine, Minn., the effort marked his
first career game-winning goal and multi-goal game. It was his second
multi-point outing as a Seawolf, improving his rookie totals to 5-7-12.
Meanwhile, fellow freshman Allen recorded his first career multi-point game
with helpers on both of Scheid's goals.
Gunderson improved his record to 5-9-2, while Lee fell to 4-4-1.
All of the scoring came even-strength as the teams combined for just four
penalties.
Before Friday, UAA's last victories in St. Cloud came in its days as a Division
I Independent, sweeping a series on Nov. 6-7, 1987.
The Seawolves have now played two of their four overtime games this year
against the Huskies, scoring victories both times. UAA won 4-3 in a non-conference
meeting in October at the Kendall Hockey Classic in Anchorage.
The teams will play against Saturday at the NHC. Opening faceoff is set for
4:07 p.m. AST.