Alaska gets off the mark with 4-1 win over Northern Michigan

Submitted by Tom Myrick
Phone: 907-474-6805
12/01/07

The Nanooks claimed maximum points for the first time this season as they dispatched Northern Michigan 4-1 in front of over 3,000 fans in the Carlson Center on Friday. Alaska seized the initiative early with first period goals from Tyler Eckford and Braden Walls, before Dustin Sather and Nathan Lawrence found the net in the third to seal the win.

"The guys have finally been rewarded with two points," said head coach Doc DelCastillo. "There has been a lot of work that has been put into the first win. Honestly, we didn’t know when it was coming, but the guys have definitely shown character and perseverance."

The Mavericks found Alaska goaltender Wylie Rogers in inspired form, as the senior assistant captain recorded 25 saves, including a vital one-on-one stop of Mark Olver on a breakaway. Adam Naglich notched two assists to take his team-high total to nine for the year. Eckford also had two assists to go along with his early goal.

After scoring three unanswered goals to salvage a point against Nebraska-Omaha last Saturday, Alaska carried that momentum into their game tonight, taking advantage of four first period Wildcat penalties to the tune of two power play goals.

"Since the timeout [in the second period against UNO], we have played some pretty darn good hockey," DelCastillo said.

Late in the second, however, the Wildcats seemed to have found a lifeline when Phil Fox was dispossessed deep in the Nanook half. The puck bounced kindly to Erik Gustafsson near the goal line, and from his centering pass, Andrew Sarauer bundled his shot into the net past Rogers’ left shoulder.

Sarauers’ score set up a frantic third period, which saw both teams pressing for the crucial next goal. Lucky for the Nanooks, it was Sather that found it. After skating the puck down past the Northern Michigan goal line, Dion Kneslen cut back for Landon Novotney. Wildcat goaltender Reid Ellingson could just parry Novotney’s first time blast, and Sather reacted quickest to tuck the rebound home.

Nathan Lawrence put the icing on a fine Nanook performance, faking past a Wildcat defender before sneaking a shot through Ellingson’s legs to secure the points for the Blue and Gold.

Afterwards, a pleased DelCastillo would not let his men dwell on their success for too long, as the two teams face a rematch tomorrow night at the Carlson Center. "I told them they could savor the win for about 30 minutes: it’s probably down to 20 minutes now." First face-off in that match is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.