What more is there to say?  Northern Michigan University was swept this weekend
by the University of Alaska - Anchorage Seawolves.  Though NMU leads the all
time series 3-2, maybe that will change in the WCHA finals... ;-)
 
UAA Goals Scored by:                    NMU Goals Scored by:
        Jack Kowal                              Steve Woog
        Brandon Carlson                         Geoff Simpson - PP
        Mark Stitt
 
Compared to last night's game, tonight was much more intense with a bit more
hitting going on, and both goaltenders (UAA - Sean Gravistin, NMU - Rob
Kruhlak) played a much tighter game.
 
Jack Kowal put UAA on the board first when he went 1-0 with Kruhlak on a break
away, and that's how it stayed for the rest of the period.
 
Steve Woog was credited for scoring the Wildcats first goal in the second when
Gravistin made the initial save, but lost track of the puck...which had fallen
behind him.  Through the commotion, Gravistin was pushed back into the
net...despite there already being two other players back in there...  Later in
the period, Brandon Carlson for the Seawolves popped one in, but he was
immediately put in the box for high sticking...and Geoff Simpson tied it up on
the subsequent power play.
 
In the third period, the Seawolves failed to capitalize on a full two minutes
of 5-3 power play, but NMU failed too when they had six minutes of 5-4, within
seven minutes of play time.  Mark Stitt scored the winning goal with a slow
windup, but a powerful shot through Kruhlak's pads from the left side.
 
UAA has a lot of work to do yet, but they had a GREAT work ethic, and that was
one of the deciding factors in the game.  The new players never let up, and UAA
never trailed in the series.  I'm sure they will be working on their power
play, which they had only previously done for half a practice, before their
series with Boston College next week.
 
Other side notes:
 
From what I could tell, I didn't think that having a second ref really made
much of a difference.  I also don't think that I like the new coincidental
penalty rule...  Four on four play, at least what I have seen, can be rather
exciting, and three on three has it's points too.
 
Good luck to the Wolves next week!
 
sk