MADISON, Wis. – The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves started the New Year with a bang, defeating the No. 13-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, 3-2 at the Kohl Center in a non-conference game Friday evening. The Seawolves gave the Badgers their first loss at home, while picking up their first win on hostile ice.
UAA (9-8-2), which is now 4-1 against ranked opponents, furnished their second straight win and first win at the Kohl Center since March 12, 2005, with a goal in the first and two in the second. Meanwhile, the Seawolves broke a seven-game losing streak to the Badgers (10-6-1).
The Seawolves, which are now 5-0-0 when leading after the first, were on the board with just 37 seconds expired in the opening stanza. Junior forward Scott Allen gave the Seawolves a one-goal lead with his team-leading 10th of the season after receiving a centering pass from linemate Brett Cameron – UAA's first shot of the night.
Wisconsin then knotted the game with a power-play strike by Tyler Barnes at 1:22 of the second, before sophomore defenseman Ben Matthews collected his first collegiate goal and point at 8:07. Junior Andrew Pettitt and freshman Zack Rassell assisted on the play.
A little over 10 minutes later, the Seawolves went up by two goals with sophomore Blake Tatchell's sixth goal and third power-play goal of the season. Tatchell's first shot was blocked by Mark Zengerle before getting by netminder Landon Peterson at 18:35.
Zengerle brought Wisconsin within one at 14:32 with another man-advantage goal. With Joel Rumpel – who relieved Peterson for the third period between the pipes – on the bench for the extra attacker, the Seawolves kept their heads, while senior Chris Kamal came up with a timely glove save to hold on to the win.
Kamal (2-1-1) registered his second straight win in net with 17 saves, while Peterson (15 saves) earned the loss. At one point during the second period, the Seawolves were down 18-9 for shots on goal, before coming back to lead shots on goal, 29-28.
After a penalty-free first period, the Seawolves were sent to the box for eight minutes, while the Badgers were tagged for 10 minutes of infractions. UAA was 1-for-5 on the man advantage and UW was 2-for-4.
The Seawolves and Badgers reunite tomorrow at 4 p.m. AST, as UAA looks for its first sweep in Madison since Nov. 10-11, 2000.
