FAIRBANKS - Soldotna freshman Brad Duwe scored the game-winning goal with just 2:45 left in the third period to lift Alaska Anchorage to a 5-4 WCHA first round playoff-clinching victory over Alaska Fairbanks at the Carlson Center Saturday night.

The Seawolves, 18-15-4, advance to next week's WCHA Final Five in Grand Rapids, Mich., where they will meet Ferris State in a semifinal matchup on March 21 at Van Andel Arena. The Bulldogs, 27-9-3, were the WCHA regular season champions and beat Bemidji State, 2-0, in their WCHA first-round playoff series. The Nanooks finish the season at 18-15-4.

Duwe's goal, his seventh on the season, capped off a wild third period that saw five goals scored as the Seawolves twice turned back the Nanooks which had come back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game at 3-3 and then 4-4.

Jordan Kwas, Matt Bailey, Scott Allen and Austin Coldwell all tallied goals for UAA and goalie Rob Gunderson (10-7-2) was credited with 24 saves in picking up the win in net for the Seawolves.

UAA, under first-year head coach Matt Thomas, has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround from last season's four-win campaign.