Saturday, January 25, 2003

TECH COMPLETES SWEEP OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE WITH 3-1 VICTORY

HOUGHTON, Mich. -- It was by no means easy, but the Michigan Tech
men's ice hockey team found a way to gain a 3-1 Western Collegiate
Hockey Association victory over Alaska Anchorage Saturday
night and complete a weekend sweep of the Seawolves.

Tech got off to a 1-0 lead at 12:21 of the first period as Brad
Sullivan came down the slot all alone, took a nice feed from Colin
Murphy, and buried the puck past Kevin Reiter.

The advantage stayed at just a goal until 18:48 of the second stanza.
That's when Chris Conner took a feed across the slot from Bryan Perez
and put home his ninth of the year. Murphy also drew an assist on the
play.

UAA got back to within striking distance just 3:07 into the third as
Daron Underwood's shot from the point on the power play clanked off
the crossbar and in. The visitors had some pretty solid pressure the
last several minutes of the game, but senior Chris Durno's empty-net
goal with :01 left sealed the win for the Huskies.

"We needed two wins and we got two wins," said Tech Head Coach Mike
Sertich. "It wasn't pretty, but we found a way to get the job done."

Cam Ellsworth picked up the win with 35 saves, while UAA's Reiter
also made 35 saves.

Tech hosts St. Cloud State next Friday and Saturday (Jan. 31-Feb. 1)
in the conclusion of a six-game WCHA homestand.

NOTES: Senior Chris Durno extended his point streak to a career-high
six games with his third-period goal . . . The Huskies went 4-0-0
against Alaska Anchorage, marking the first time ever Tech has swept
the Seawolves in a four-game season series . . . Junior Frank Werner
extended his point streak to four games with an assist . . .
Sophomores Bryan Perez and Colin Murphy each had two assists in the
game . . . Tech had a 41-34 edge in faceoffs . . . Sophomore Cam
Ellsworth stopped 71-of-74 Alaska Anchorage shots in the two-game
weekend series (.959 saves percentage) and allowed just two
even-strength goals.