BEMIDJI, Minn. – Despite a third-period, comeback goal, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves dropped a 2-1 overtime game against nationally-ranked No. 20 Bemidji State in their first Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest of the season on Friday.
The Seawolves (1-4-0, 0-1-0 WCHA) fell behind in the first before tying the game in the third and forcing extra minutes. BSU's 3-on-1, odd-man rush in overtime, led to Phillip Marianccio game-winning goal at 2:05 of the 5-on-5 overtime. The Beavers (5-2-0) remain undefeated in league play at 5-0-0 and at No. 1 in the WCHA standings.
Keeping the Seawolves in the game and giving them a fighting chance was junior goaltender Olivier Mantha. Mantha, from La Tuque, Quebec, furnished 32 saves in the loss and drops to 1-3-0 on the season. A two-time MVP for UAA, Mantha made 12 saves in the first and 11 in the third.
Meanwhile, UAA, which has scored just one goal in each of the last four games, received its tally from junior captain Matt Anholt. A local of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Anholt collected his first on the season and 10th of his career with eight minutes left in the third. Anholt corralled a pass from sophomore forward Jonah Renouf with his skate and stick, finding a wide-open, backdoor goal. Senior defenseman Chase Van Allen picked up the secondary assist.
The Seawolves biggest rival of the night was the penalty box, spending a combined 34 minutes on the penalty kill in the first, second and early part of the third. UAA was forced to kill off two, 5-minute major penalties throughout the 65 minutes of play – its second and third majors of the season.
Scoring the power-play goal for the Beavers was Brendan Harms at 7:23 of the opening period. Harms collected a rebounded puck to get by Mantha. Charlie O'Connor and Gerry Fitzgerald were credited with the helpers.
UAA was 0-for-3 on the power play, while allowing BSU to go 1-for-5. The Seawolves were out shot, 34-15, including 2-0 in overtime. The Beavers Michael Bitzer made 14 saves for the win.
The Seawolves and Beavers will rematch tomorrow at 4:07 p.m. ADT at the Sanford Center.
