ANCHORAGE – The Alaska Anchorage Seawolves dropped a 4-1 non-conference game to in-state rival, the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, Saturday night at the Sullivan Arena in front of an impressive 3,223 fans.
Scoring UAA's first goal of the season was junior defenseman Jarrett Brown, since the Seawolves were shut out Friday evening vs. No. 13 Minnesota. The loss to UAF (1-0-0) broke an 11-game streak of one-goal games between the Alaska schools. Meanwhile, UAA hasn't started 0-2 since the 2000-01 season.
The Nanooks, playing in their first regular-season game, capitalized in the first period with three straight goals. Junior Justin Woods made it 1-0 at 6:13 with a power-play wrister from just inside the blueline. Less than four minutes later, a delayed penalty and miscommunication furnished junior Taylor Munson's strike at 9:40.
With just 17 seconds remaining in the opening stanza, UAA was unable to clear the puck in front of netminder Olivier Mantha, giving sophomore Ryker Leer a clear shot and Mantha no time to respond.
The Seawolves' didn't help themselves any in the first 20 minutes, spending eight minutes on the penalty kill. UAA started the frame with a 5-on-3 for 74 seconds, but only mustered one shot on target and allowed the Nanooks a 13-3 advantage for shots.
UAA was down a man to start the second period, but managed to keep the game frozen at 3-0 UAF. The Seawolves had their second 5-on-3 for 33 seconds, but were once again stifled, before killing a 5-minute major on sophomore Mason Mitchell (face masking) that trailed over to the third set.
A Seawolf turnover near Mantha handed UAF another strike, when sophomore Chad Stanley fired on net at 2:08 after the Mitchell penalty had expired. UAF's lead was then cut to three when Brown backhanded a rebound with 3:12 left in the game. Senior forward Connor Wright picked up the first helper, while freshman Nolan Nicholas registered his first collegiate point with a helper.
UAF out shot the Seawolves, 27-20. Mantha (0-2-0) made 23 saves in the loss, while senior Davis Jones (1-0-0) turned aside 19. UAA was 0-for-6 on the power play, while UAF was 1-for-8.
The teams will play each other four more time this season in conference matchups. Those four games will double as Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup games.
The Seawolves will head north for the annual Brice Alaska Goal Rush in Fairbanks when they play non-conference matches with Omaha (Oct. 14) and Canisius (Oct. 15). UAF will take on Minnesota tomorrow at the Sullivan Arena at 4:07 p.m. ADT.
