UAA's Brave Effort Falls Short

From: UAA Athletics Website

(left) Merit Waldrop - Photo Michael Dineen

Box Score

ANCHORAGE – While six of UAA's best fighters watched from the stands, the boys left on the squad put up a heroic effort before falling to Denver 4-2 on Friday night. The game hung in the balance tied at 2-2 until the two late goals by the Pioneers tilted the contest.

Two Pioneers goals in the final 5:25 of regulation extended its unbeaten streak in Anchorage to nine games.

UAA, who hadn’t lost on the first night of a two-game series since early November, played with just three forward lines and just 15 skaters due to the suspension of six regulars from last Saturday’s fight at Colorado College.

The Seawolves scored the game’s first goal at the 4:38 mark of the second when junior defenseman Luke Beaverson powered a hard wrister in from the left circle. The power-play goal was the first of Beaverson’s career and his fourth overall this season.

Senior Justin Bourne collected his team-best 20th point of the season with the first assist while junior Merit Waldrop tallied the second assist. Waldrop’s assist extended his current point-scoring streak to five games.

Denver would answer with a pair of late goals in the period from Brock Trotter and Rhett Rakhshani on the power play, to take a 2-1 lead at the second intermission.

The momentum swung back UAA’s way in the third when sophomore defenseman Mat Robinson would strike for his first goal of the year with a wrist shot from the low slot at 6:25 of the period. Josh Lunden fed a pass from across the crease to a waiting Robinson at the right post who lifted the puck over DU goalie Glenn Fisher’s shoulder.

Freshmen Josh Lunden and Paul Crowder tallied assist on Robinson’s goal.

Denver would regain its edge when a Ryan Dingle shot would bounce off UAA freshman goalie Jon Olthuis’ pads at the 14:35 mark, making the score 3-2. Olthuis got his pads on the initial shot but the puck jumped up and over his shoulder before falling into the net.

Tyler Ruegsegger added an insurance goal for DU at 18:16.

Olthuis made 28 saves in his third career start for the Seawolves, including making 11 in the first period and 10 in the second.

Denver goalie Glenn Fisher, who came into the game owning the top save percentage in the WCHA (.928), made 26 saves for his eighth victory of the season.

Each team scored on the power play with UAA going 1-for-3 and DU 1-for-4.

The Pioneers outshot the ‘Wolves 32-28, but UAA held an 11-9 edge in the final frame.

The Seawolves were whistled for a season-low eight penalty minutes one week after committing a season-high 108 minutes worth of penalties.