No. 5 moment - hockey wins CCHA finale on late Taranto goal

August 21, 2013

University Relations

Chris Brooks
907-474-6805

Continuing our countdown to the top moment from the past year, we now take a look at our No. 5 moment of 2012-13. In Alaska's final regular season Central Collegiate Hockey Association game in history, senior Andy Taranto lit the lamp with 63 seconds left and an Adam Henderson empty-net tally in the final moments gave the Nanooks a 4-2 win against Michigan State.

With the game deadlocked at 2-2, MSU took a minor penalty at 18:43 of the third period. Taranto, who was the Nanooks' leading scorer, had none bigger goal than the one he scored with only 1:03 to go in regulation against the Spartans on Feb. 23 at the Carlson Center.

Only 16 seconds in to the man-advantage, Taranto found his stick on the puck and he put it home to ignite the Carlson Center and give the 'Nooks a 3-2 advantage.

Michigan State emptied the net for an extra attacker but fellow senior Henderson, who transferred to Alaska from State, secured the victory with a goal on the wide-open cage with just eight ticks to go.

That win allowed the Nanooks to finish in sixth-place in the CCHA standings and thus earned a home series in the first round of the conference playoffs.

Tomorrow, we'll reveal our No. 4 moment of the 2012-13 season – STAY TUNED!

SCHEDULE OF RELEASES
Aug. 13 – Honorable Mentions
Aug. 14 – Hanneman Earns Spot on U.S. Ski Team and NCAA Berth
Aug. 15 – Men's Basketball Nearly Breaks GNAC Record in Tournament Win
Aug. 16 – Adams Repeats as National Runner-up in the 100 Fly
Aug. 17 – Granberg Scores with Three Seconds Left to Shock Notre Dame
Aug. 18 – McPhetres Tops Podium Twice, Women's Skiing Wins Region Title
Aug. 19 – Taranto's Late Goal Leads Hockey to Win in Final CCHA Game
Aug. 20 – No. 4 Moment
Aug. 21 – No. 3 Moment
Aug. 22 – No. 2 Moment
Aug. 23 – No. 1 Moment