BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves fell 6-2 against nationally-ranked No. 18 Bowling Green Falcons Thursday in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game at the BGSU Ice Arena in Ohio.
The Falcons (14-7-5, 10-3-4 WCHA) erupted for five goals in the second period – including three in 47 seconds – to dispatch the Seawolves (9-11-3, 6-9-2 WCHA) and stay undefeated at home in conference play.
The night started following a 23-minute delay caused by a broken sheet of glass during warm-ups. The first period got underway and was back-and-forth until the Falcons ended the deadlock with 1:48 left in the first. The lead was captured by Sean Walker, who fired through traffic and beat a screened Olivier Mantha, while the teams were skating 4-on-4.
After the 15-minute intermission, the Seawolves enjoyed a power-play opportunity but were unable to convert. Fortunately, 42 seconds later the Falcon defense gave up the puck to freshman forward Alex Jackstadt, who furnished a breakaway goal, five-hole strike at 5:24. Assists went to junior Chase Van Allen and senior Chris Williams.
The momentum ended quickly as the Falcons registered two goals, eight seconds apart to take a 3-1 lead in the second. Stephen Baylis returned the lead to BGSU at 7:51, before Joe McKeown gave his team a two-goal lead at 7:59 with a very similar shot to Baylis. It was McKeown's first career goal.
Even with the two-goal lead, the Falcon pressure didn't let up and instead it forged a 4-1 lead at 10:38 with a back-door goal by Brandon Hawkins. The fourth strike eventually sent Mantha to the bench as classmate Jared D'Amico took over between the pipes.
The second intermission couldn't come quick enough as the Falcons added two more tallies in the final minutes of the second with strikes by Mark Cooper (17:34) and Mark Friedman (19:08). Falcons leading 6-1 heading into the second break. The six goals tied BGSU's season high.
Collecting the Seawolves' second goal of the night was junior forward Brad Duwe at 6:22 of the third with assists going to freshmen Wyatt Ege and Sean MacTavish.
Missing his first game of the season was senior captain Austin Sevalrud with an upper body injury and is listed week-to-week.
The teams will reunite tomorrow at 3:07 p.m. AST.
